Assam CM Himanta Sarma Unveils Major Welfare 'Sixes' Ahead of Polls
In a significant pre-election move, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday announced a sweeping set of promises for the people of the poll-bound state. The announcements, made at a rally in Golaghat, include pledges for free education from school to university level, two lakh government jobs, free distribution of essential commodities, bicycles for minors, and houses for tea garden workers.
Cricketing Analogy for Grand Promises
Sarma likened these commitments to hitting "sixes" in cricket rather than "fours," emphasizing the scale and ambition of his government's plans. "We are not here to play for boundaries. I prefer hitting sixes. I do more than what I promise," he declared, drawing loud applause from party workers. The rally was held as he attended the nomination submission of ally AGP president Atul Bora.
Details of the Welfare Package
The "sixes" package blends populist welfare with budget-backed schemes, targeting key constituencies that have historically supported the BJP. Key promises include:
- Free Education: Sarma stated that the responsibility of educating children will now rest with the government, not parents. "From school to university, boys and girls will get free education. Their responsibility will no longer be on their parents but on the government," he announced.
- Government Jobs: The CM highlighted the creation of 1.6 lakh jobs without bribes and promised to increase this to 2 lakh jobs in the next term.
- Free Essential Commodities: Previously, the government charged ₹100 for a ration pack containing dal, salt, and sugar. Sarma declared that this pack will now be provided free of cost, with an addition of one litre of mustard oil.
- Bicycles for Minors: Even minors without voting rights will receive bicycles, as per the announcement.
- Housing for Tea Garden Workers: Sarma pledged financial assistance to build houses for tea garden workers, following earlier land patta distributions.
- Expansion of Welfare Schemes: The CM committed to covering all families left out of housing schemes and the Orunodoi cash transfer program, which currently provides ₹1,250 monthly to 37.2 lakh households.
Electoral Code and Government Backing
Assam's Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goel clarified that such promises are permissible under the Model Code of Conduct if framed as future commitments. "Political parties and candidates are free to give their agenda — to say we will do this if we come back to power. That is allowed as long as they don't say that my govt will do this," Goel explained, noting that Sarma's statements align with this guideline.
Background and Strategic Outreach
These promises build on the state budget, which had already expanded flagship welfare schemes. Sarma pointed to the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan (MMUA), a ₹3,000-crore program that has empowered 40 lakh women with ₹10,000 seed capital each. He announced plans to provide ₹25,000 loans to these women through bank linkages as mentioned in the budget.
Reflecting on his government's performance, Sarma claimed no administration had worked as effectively in the past five years and asserted, "In the next five years, we will deliver four times more." The BJP's welfare strategies, such as the 2016 loan waiver for women microfinance borrowers, have historically resonated in rural Assam, and Sarma's latest promises aim to replicate this success by focusing on women, youth, and tea tribes.
The announcements underscore the BJP's continued reliance on welfare politics as it prepares for the upcoming elections, with Sarma positioning these commitments as transformative "sixes" for Assam's development.
