Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal ramped up the BJP’s election campaign across Upper Assam on Friday, addressing rallies in Margherita, Majuli and Khowang to back candidates Bhaskar Sharma, Bhuban Gam and Chakradhar Gogoi. Speaking to large crowds, Sonowal framed the contest as a defining moment for the Assamese people, urging voters to protect their identity, rights and self-respect.
At a packed meeting at Inthem Naga Pathar in Margherita, Sonowal said the campaign was “not just an election rally — it is a platform of resolve to safeguard the self-respect, identity, and rights of the Assamese people,” invoking the legacy of Swargadeo Chaolung Sukapha to stress Assam’s cultural roots.
Defending the BJP-led government’s record, he pointed to land rights granted to lakhs of families and eviction drives to reclaim allegedly encroached land, calling these steps essential to preserve indigenous heritage. “Today, Assam has entered a new era of peace, development, and confidence,” Sonowal said, asking voters to back the NDA’s vision of a self-reliant Assam within a developed India.
He reserved his strongest criticism for the Congress, accusing the party of long-term neglect and of encouraging illegal infiltration to sustain vote-bank politics, which he said weakened the state’s social and cultural fabric and eroded indigenous rights. Sonowal also alleged that Congress “brutally suppressed youth during the Assam Movement,” adding, “Such actions can never be forgiven.”
In Majuli, Sonowal adopted a warmer tone, extending Rongali Bihu and Assamese New Year greetings and recalling his 2016 visit as a chief ministerial candidate. “When I came to Majuli in 2016 as a chief ministerial candidate, the people blessed me with immense love and support. I consider Majuli as my mother,” he said, highlighting the island’s personal significance to him.
Sonowal cited Majuli’s elevation to full district status as a key administrative win that reduces residents’ dependence on Jorhat and Dispur, and he promoted the riverine island’s tourism potential as a “pollution-free region with immense potential as a global tourism destination,” while stressing the need for youth employment and women’s empowerment.
Backing BJP candidate Bhuban Gam, Sonowal praised his simplicity and grassroots connect, saying approachability is the leader’s greatest strength. He closed by urging voters to deliver a decisive mandate: “Majuli’s strength will strengthen Assam, and a strong Assam will contribute to a stronger India.”
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/assam-polls-bjp-govt-ushered-in-era-of-peace-and-growth-says-sarbananda-sonowal/articleshow/130015668.cms
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Publish Date: 2026-04-04 13:48:00
