Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma officially launched a statewide wall painting campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday, signalling the intensification of the party's preparations for the upcoming elections to the 126-member legislative assembly. The polls are anticipated to be held in March-April this year.
Campaign Launch and Core Strategy
Initiating the campaign by painting the party's symbol, the lotus, on a wall in the Khanapra area of Guwahati, CM Sarma declared that the initiative would now spread across Assam. He emphasized that the work would be completed within a strict and pre-determined timeframe.
A key aspect of the campaign is seeking prior permission from wall owners before adorning them with the lotus and accompanying slogans. The Chief Minister framed this as a strategic move to enhance public engagement and outreach. He stated that the slogans would serve a dual purpose: highlighting the developmental work undertaken by BJP-led governments in the state over the past 5-10 years and reflecting the core ideology of the party.
Slogans and Electoral Themes
The campaign features a series of pointed slogans designed to connect with voters on specific issues. Prominent among them are messages focusing on the protection of civilization, culture, and life; safeguarding land and rights; and promoting women's economic empowerment. Each slogan concludes with a call for a "BJP Govt Once Again."
CM Sarma expressed strong confidence in the BJP's position in Assam, revealing that the party is prepared to announce candidates for 50 assembly seats immediately if directed by the central leadership. He contrasted this with sharp criticism of the opposition Congress, alleging it was collecting massive sums of money, ranging from Rs 3 crore to Rs 5 crore, for tickets in about two dozen seats. He highlighted that the BJP has no application fee system for prospective candidates.
Alliance Talks and Statewide Rollout
On the crucial matter of alliances, the Chief Minister provided an update, noting that BJP state president Dilip Saikia is actively engaged in seat-sharing discussions with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). He added that BJP ministers are also part of the negotiation process and expressed optimism that a final agreement would be reached by February 15.
The campaign witnessed simultaneous launches beyond Guwahati, marking a coordinated pre-election mobilization effort. In Silchar, located in the Barak Valley, the drive began in front of the local BJP office at Itkhola. Party leaders and workers gathered to paint walls with slogans centering on development and security, with "Assam’s Security: BJP’s Pledge" emerging as a central theme.
A similar event was organized in Haflong, the headquarters of Dima Hasao district. There, the campaign was inaugurated by Assam Minister Nandita Gorlosa near the district commissioner's office, underscoring the party's focus on reaching every region of the state.
Looking Ahead
The launch of this extensive wall painting campaign marks a visible and aggressive entry of the BJP into the active campaign phase for the Assam assembly elections. By combining symbolic imagery with targeted messaging on governance, security, and cultural identity, the party aims to solidify its base and reach out to undecided voters. The coming weeks will reveal the public's response to this large-scale visual outreach as the political landscape in Assam heats up ahead of the crucial polls.
