The election atmosphere in Assam is getting heated and the statements of the leaders now seem to be turning into a direct political confrontation. Addressing a public meeting in Cachar, Chief Minister and BJP candidate Himanta Biswa Sarma made a scathing attack on Congress and opposition leaders. On Friday, he took a dig at Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. Apart from this, this statement of Sarma was not limited to Congress only. He also targeted AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi and said, ‘Whatever slogan Asaduddin Owaisi gives. After the elections, the slogan will be Prime Minister Modi and mine only.

Through this statement, Sarma clearly indicated that BJP is confident of its victory. The influence of the opposition is limited.

This time elections in Assam limited to development-local issues
This time the elections in Assam are not limited to just development or local issues, rather it seems to be turning into a fight for identity, land and political supremacy. Especially the issues related to migration, encroachment and land have given further edge to the election debate. In such a situation, the statements of the leaders have also become more aggressive and direct.

Owaisi retaliated?
Meanwhile, in Barpeta, AIMIM chief Owaisi strongly retaliated against Sarma’s statement and the policies of the state government. He said, ‘What Himanta Biswa Sarma is doing is unconstitutional, and Badruddin Ajmal’s party had gone to the Supreme Court and brought orders from there. If it is forest land, then alternative land should be given.’ Owaisi alleged that the government is targeting a particular community.

Owaisi did not stop here. Describing the government’s action as ‘illegal, unconstitutional and repressive’, he said, ‘Targeted action is being taken against only one community and we condemn it.’

He also claimed that the public will answer the government this time. He said that we are confident that a large number of people will vote in favor of AIUDF on 9th. Owaisi also targeted the working style of the Chief Minister and said that the Chief Minister is talking like a rich man. He is anti-poor. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that when 50 thousand Muslim minorities were being made homeless in Assam, if anyone was fighting, it was the leadership of AIUDF. Congress had become blind and dumb.

Rahul-Priyanka know they are going to lose: Himanta Biswa Sarma
Questioning the activism of the Congress leadership, he said that Rahul Gandhi went to Kerala. Both (Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi) had come once. Both of them left after two meetings. They also know that they are going to lose.

This time sharp rhetoric is visible in Assam elections

This conflict is not new in Assam politics, but this time the level and sharpness of rhetoric is more visible. On one hand, BJP seems to be full of confidence about its victory, while on the other hand, the opposition is busy in creating an atmosphere by making the government’s policies an issue. Now everyone’s eyes are fixed on the 9th, when through voting the public will decide how much merit is there in whose claims. This war of words in the electoral arena will ultimately be decided only by the power of votes.

Also read: ‘Not a double engine, but a government of double loot and double deception’, Congress’s big allegation against the BJP government before the election riots in Assam.