Assam CM Himanta Sarma's Controversial Video and Anti-Migrant Stance Spark Outrage
In February, the Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) uploaded a video that ignited immediate protests from opposition parties, triggered outrage within civil society, and led to petitions being filed in both the Supreme Court and the Gauhati High Court. The video, which was later taken down, featured an edited clip combining a photograph of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma aiming an air pistol at a sports complex with a bullet moving toward a man wearing a skull cap.
Despite the backlash, there was no clarification or retraction from Sarma, a leader who has built his political career around the removal of undocumented Bangladeshi immigrants, locally referred to as "miyas." In January, Sarma told the media that he and the BJP are "openly against miyas" and that his job is "to make miyas suffer" so they eventually leave Assam.
Building 'Brand Himanta' with Identity Politics and Welfare Schemes
As Sarma seeks a second term as Chief Minister, his anti-migrant rhetoric, no-holds-barred approach, strong welfare pitch, and emphasis on jati, mati, bheti (identity, land, homeland) have become foundational elements of 'brand Himanta.' Few BJP chief ministers have a personal brand that transcends the party's image, with Yogi Adityanath being a notable exception. Sarma is determined to prove he belongs in that category as well.
Unlike previous elections where the BJP relied heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sarma is leading the charge for all National Democratic Alliance (NDA) parties, including the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), Bodoland People's Front (BPF), and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL). He has taken responsibility for ensuring the coalition's reach extends deep into tribal and indigenous constituencies.
For Sarma, this election is not just about returning to office but about achieving a larger victory than ever before. He has promised to lead the BJP, which won 60 seats in the last two polls, past the majority mark of 64 seats independently. Of Assam's 126 assembly seats, Sarma has publicly predicted that 103 will be won by indigenous candidates.
Eviction Drives and Identity-Based Campaigns
Since taking office, Sarma's government has conducted eviction drives targeting encroachers on forest and state-owned lands, which have largely affected Muslims of Bangladeshi origin. Simultaneously, land pattas have been distributed to indigenous landless families and descendants of tea garden workers. Sarma frequently highlights that there are 50 lakh bighas of encroached land holdings in Assam, with only 1.5 lakh bighas cleared so far.
Sarma has also sharpened his attacks on the Congress party, ridiculing its election slogan of building a 'Notun Bor Axom' (New Greater Assam) and accusing Assam Pradesh Congress Committee chief Gaurav Gogoi of attempting to redefine the state's cultural identity by suggesting indigenous Assamese people should coexist with Bangladeshi-origin people. Central to Sarma's campaign narrative is his prediction that Assam's Muslim population will rise to 40% by 2027, up from 34% in the 2011 Census.
Criticism and Social Commentary
Author and social commentator Mayur Bora offers a nuanced perspective on Sarma's politics. "Sarma's brand of politics has two sides," Bora says. "One is his immense ability to work hard. We have seen infrastructure development on a scale not witnessed in decades, and that deserves appreciation. The other side is his attempt to become Hindutva's poster boy, bringing a divisive streak unprecedented in Assam, the land of Sankaradeva and Ajan Fakir. That is deeply sad and unfortunate. This has polluted the political environment. The mentality it fosters may outlive the individual, leaving behind sharper divides between Hindus and Muslims."
Welfare Politics and Women's Support
Sarma's welfare plan has been meticulously designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of society. It includes:
- Financial aid for women
- Youth empowerment programmes
- Scholarships for students
- Support for entrepreneurs
- One-time assistance for tea garden workers
- Funds for namghars (prayer houses)
Sarma emphasizes that these schemes are rooted in compassion rather than politics, stating, "These are not freebies." The optics of his campaign are equally well-planned, with visuals of women supporters hugging and showering him with affection during rallies. Women, who constitute nearly 50% of the state's electorate, have emerged as Sarma's most loyal constituency, thanks to cash transfers, scholarships, empowerment schemes, and recruitment drives that have opened doors for women from poor families.
Expressing his gratitude, Sarma says, "From mothers to children and elders, everyone showers me with love and affection... it is only through years of penance that one receives such love."
Social Media Presence and Electoral Prospects
On social media, Sarma is the most followed chief minister in India, and the "mama" (uncle) tag has become an integral part of his political branding, serving to soften his strongman image. As he seeks to retain the Jalukbari seat for the sixth consecutive time, Sarma predicts that 85-90% of the electorate will vote for him.
Before delimitation, Jalukbari was a mixed urban-rural constituency where Sarma's dominance was unchallenged, culminating in a landslide victory in 2021 with a 77% vote share. After delimitation, Jalukbari has added 40,000 more voters and transformed into a more urban-suburban profile, with central Guwahati wards shifted out and new peri-urban areas added. This change is seen as favorable to Sarma, and across Assam, he views similar shifts as advantageous for the BJP's electoral prospects.
