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NDA Sets Target of 100 Seats in Assam Ahead of 2026 Assembly Elections

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, Gwahati
  • Aug 29, 2025
  • 576

Setting the tone for next year’s Assembly polls in Assam, the NDA on Friday declared its target of winning 100 of the state’s 126 seats. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, and AGP president Atul Bora made the announcement at a rally attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The campaign launch focused on development, anti-infiltration measures, and sharp criticism of the Congress. Addressing panchayat representatives, CM Sarma invoked the slogan of protecting Assam’s “jati, mati, bhet” (community, land, foundation) and pledged to reclaim land encroached upon by outsiders. He alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with Islamic scholar Madani, had threatened him, adding that Assam was prepared to defend its identity as in the historic Battle of Saraighat.

Sonowal hit out at the Congress for a past “marked by neglect, terrorism, and disturbances,” crediting the Modi government with bringing peace and development to the Northeast. Bora too flagged earlier threats from fundamentalist forces but said peace accords signed under the NDA have strengthened law and order.

During his two-day visit, Shah launched the BJP’s poll preparations, attacking the Congress over alleged support to infiltrators. He ridiculed Rahul Gandhi’s “Ghuspetiya Bachao Yatra” in Bihar, and demanded an apology to Prime Minister Modi and the nation. Shah highlighted the BJP government’s eviction drives, claiming 1,29,548 acres of land were freed from infiltrators and the sanctity of Vaishnavite monasteries restored.

Speaking at the birth centenary of former CM Golap Borbora, Shah recalled Borbora’s efforts to cleanse voter rolls of illegal names, calling it the genesis of the Assam Agitation. He reaffirmed the BJP’s commitment to a “foreigners-free Assam,” pointing to Modi’s high-power demography mission aimed at identifying infiltrators.

The 126-member Assam Assembly is due for elections in March-April 2026. Currently, the BJP holds 64 seats, its allies AGP and UPPL hold nine and seven respectively, while the opposition comprises Congress (26), AIUDF (15), BPF (3), CPI(M) (1) and one Independent MLA.

Shah concluded his visit on Friday, with CM Sarma and his cabinet colleagues seeing him off at the airport. In a post on X, Sarma described Shah’s guidance as “energising and motivational.”