Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a crucial timeline for the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Friday, stating that the coalition aims to finalize its seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming state assembly elections by the middle of January. The announcement came as the state BJP claimed that the government's proactive steps on granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six Other Backward Class (OBC) communities have pushed the opposition into a state of political despair.
Seat-Sharing Talks to Conclude Before Magh Bihu
Speaking on the sidelines of a government event in Umrangso, Chief Minister Sarma revealed that discussions with alliance partners are likely to be completed before Magh Bihu, which is celebrated in mid-January. "My target is that all understandings with our allies should be formalised by Jan 15," Sarma stated emphatically. This sets a clear deadline for the ruling coalition to solidify its strategy for the polls, which are anticipated to be held in March-April this year.
The Bharatiya Janata Party's key allies in Assam are the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), and the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF). In the current 126-member Assam Legislative Assembly, the ruling BJP holds 64 MLAs. Its allies AGP, UPPL, and BPF have nine, seven, and three members respectively. The opposition Congress has 26 MLAs, the AIUDF has 15, and the CPI(M) has one, with an Independent legislator also in the House.
BJP Claims Opposition in 'Despair' Over ST Status Move
In a parallel political development, the Assam Pradesh BJP asserted that the government's recent initiatives regarding the process of granting ST status to six OBC communities have significantly cornered the opposition. State BJP spokesperson Kamal Kumar Medhi commented on the situation, highlighting a perceived disconnect between the opposition's stance and the communities' aspirations.
"At a time when the people of the six communities are openly expressing satisfaction with the decision, the statements and conduct of Congress and other opposition parties have deeply aggrieved the very communities concerned," Medhi said. The BJP's narrative suggests that this government move has created a favorable political climate for the ruling alliance while leaving opposition parties struggling to find an effective counter-narrative.
CM Warns Against 'Cheap Politics' in Zubeen Garg Case
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sarma also addressed another sensitive issue, urging the opposition to refrain from engaging in what he termed as "cheap politics" over the case involving popular singer Zubeen Garg. He assured the public that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Assam Police is diligently working on the case and will submit a chargesheet soon. This statement aims to project an image of a government focused on due process and justice, above political point-scoring.
With the election season heating up, the twin announcements regarding seat-sharing deadlines and the political narrative around the ST status issue mark the beginning of a highly charged campaign phase in Assam. The BJP-led NDA's ability to swiftly conclude its internal arrangements stands in contrast to the challenges often faced by opposition coalitions, potentially giving the ruling combine an early organizational advantage.
