Assam Chief Minister Launches Political Offensive in West Bengal
In a significant political maneuver, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stormed into West Bengal's electoral arena on Thursday with a formidable 50-member delegation. The group, comprising MPs, ministers, MLAs, and state office bearers, carried Assam's governance playbook directly into the neighboring state, setting the stage for a fierce confrontation with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress party.
Governance Model and Immigration Critique
At three campaign rallies held in Cooch Behar, Kalchini, and Phansidewa, Sarma vigorously promoted Assam's decade-long governance record as an exemplary model. He drew sharp contrasts between BJP-ruled states and West Bengal, particularly on the issue of immigration from Bangladesh.
"In Assam and Tripura, BJP governments do not permit infiltration from Bangladesh," Sarma declared. "However, Mamata Banerjee welcomes illegal immigrants in her state."
The Assam CM presented demographic data to support his claims, noting that Assam's Hindu population has declined from 80% to 60%. He predicted that upcoming census results would reveal a similar trend in West Bengal, with Hindu numbers dropping from 70% to approximately 60%, accompanied by a corresponding increase in the percentage of Bangladeshi Muslims within the state.
Land Evictions and Dire Warnings
Sarma highlighted his administration's actions against illegal immigration, revealing that Bangladeshi Muslims had been evicted from 1.5 lakh acres of land in Assam. He issued a stark warning about West Bengal's future under continued TMC rule.
"If the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC remains in power, the situation in West Bengal will deteriorate beyond even that of Bangladesh," Sarma cautioned, intensifying his critique of the ruling party's policies.
Religious and Cultural Controversies
At Kalchini, Sarma specifically targeted AJUP leader Humayun Kabir's mosque project, which he claimed was named after Babar. "Let BJP form the government in Bengal, and we will teach him a lesson," Sarma asserted. "We have no objection to mosque construction, but why in Babar's name? No one would dare to build a mosque named after Babar in Assam."
Economic and Livelihood Issues
The Assam CM also accused the TMC of collaborating with tea garden owners to suppress wage increases for workers. He contrasted this with his own government's actions in Assam.
"When she announced no increase in daily wages, we unilaterally raised the daily wages of tea garden workers in Assam from Rs 240 to Rs 280, along with providing ration," Sarma stated.
He challenged Banerjee directly on worker welfare: "How can tea garden workers afford fish or meat with a daily wage of only Rs 240? Mamata ji, increase their wages so they can also enjoy such food."
Food Politics and Cultural Identity
Sarma countered TMC claims that BJP would ban non-vegetarian food in Bengal if they came to power. "Mamata Didi claims that BJP will ban non-veg food in Bengal. I invite her to Assam, where we have excellent non-vegetarian cuisine. Assam has had a BJP government for ten years, yet people continue to eat non-veg. Why spread this misconception?"
He clarified the only dietary restriction in Assam: "The sole restriction in Assam concerns beef. We are Sanatanis. We neither consume beef nor permit others to do so."
Broader Political Context and Predictions
Sarma sharpened BJP's campaign pitch in West Bengal's northern districts ahead of the April 23 and 29 polling phases. He made a striking comparison about cross-border movements: "Cattle are smuggled from Bengal into Bangladesh, while humans enter India from the neighboring country."
BJP's Assam spokesperson Pranjal Kalita noted significant media observations: "Several national and regional media outlets have reflected clear public inclination toward the NDA in Assam, while simultaneously indicating rising momentum and favorable prospects for BJP in West Bengal. A strong performance here would mark the party's definitive consolidation in eastern India."
Sarma made bold electoral predictions, asserting that BJP would secure 200 seats in West Bengal. "Assam is a small state where we will score a century; Bengal is a large state where we must hit a double century," he declared at a public meeting in Phansidewa, Darjeeling district.
The political offensive represents a calculated expansion of BJP's influence in eastern India, with Assam's governance model serving as both blueprint and weapon in the high-stakes battle for West Bengal.
