Guwahati, May 13: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Tuesday that the BJP has significantly penetrated minority-dominated areas in the recent Panchayat elections, reflecting a notable shift in voter preferences across Assam. In a press briefing, Sarma presented preliminary data showing that the BJP and its allies won 300 out of 397 Zilla Parishad seats, with the BJP claiming 272 seats and the AGP securing 28. He highlighted that this victory is not only rooted in traditional strongholds but also in the party’s growing presence in constituencies with substantial minority populations.
Sarma provided specific examples of the party’s successes in minority areas. In Barpeta’s Horipur ZP, where 90% of the population belongs to minorities, BJP candidate Haider Ali Hussain emerged victorious. Similarly, in Barkhetri Sor, Nalbari—an area with a 100% minority population—BJP’s Anwara Khatun won. In Jaleswar, Dhubri, BJP’s Meher Jamal Haque also secured a seat. These outcomes, Sarma noted, signal a break from previous trends where the BJP struggled in such regions.
In Bongaigaon, the party won 8 out of 12 Zila Parishad seats, including 2-3 seats representing over 80% minority voters. Sarma interpreted this as a clear indication that minority communities are increasingly supporting the BJP. He mentioned the BJP’s previous success in areas with around 45% minority presence, but emphasized this time the party made strides even in constituencies with 90-100% minority demographics. He added that even in places where they lost, their vote share was robust, at about 30-35% in Hojai, Dhing, and Samaguri, which house significant minority populations.
Sarma also cited the Goalpara district, where the BJP-led alliance won 10 out of 16 Zila Parishad seats, including four secured by the Rabha Hasong Joutho Mancha under the BJP banner. He described the performance in Goalpara as indicative of growing acceptance among minorities, particularly in regions that have previously resisted BJP influence.
The Chief Minister acknowledged that the BJP has made modest yet meaningful inroads in other minority-dominant areas like Dhubri and South Kamrup. He stated that while they did not anticipate large wins there, even a few seats or an improved vote share were positive signals, illustrating that change, though gradual, is occurring.
While he recognized that Congress and AIUDF remain dominant in many minority-heavy districts, Sarma maintained that the BJP’s consistent presence in these areas is encouraging. “We may not have swept these regions, but we have definitely challenged the perception that the BJP cannot penetrate these constituencies,” he asserted. He attributed this increasing support to the trust that minority communities are starting to place in the BJP, claiming that the party’s credibility and outreach resonate even in traditionally Opposition-strong areas.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/bjp-expands-beyond-strongholds-into-minority-dominated-areas-cm-after-panchayat-win-1577342
Category: Assam,Featured
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Publish Date: 2025-05-13 17:13:00
