Himanta Biswa Sarma Leads BJP's Campaign to Win Assam in 2024 Indian General Election

Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Chief Minister of Assam and a prominent BJP leader, is spearheading the party's efforts to secure victory in the state during the upcoming 2024 Indian general election. Despite Assam's Rupahi village having a 95% Muslim population, traditionally considered a challenging territory for the BJP, Sarma is actively engaging with local residents and gaining their support.

Known for his controversial statements against Muslim immigrants in Assam, Sarma is now seen mingling with Bangla-speaking Muslim voters, dancing and singing with them, and promising various development projects and welfare schemes. This new approach, which focuses on the Chief Minister's performance and delivery of benefits to the poor Muslims, is being viewed as a surprising experiment that may provide a healthy campaign paradigm for the BJP in the rest of India. "The upcoming polls in the North East states, including Assam, will be a critical test for the BJP, as the party faces challenges such as the year-long violence in Manipur," reported KD scribe.

Sarma's ability to connect with Muslim voters, even in areas traditionally dominated by the Congress party, and his efforts to address their concerns and win their trust could have a significant impact on the BJP's electoral prospects in the 2024 general election. In his addresses, Sarma has challenged the Congress party's narrative, questioning whether the Muslim community has faced any hindrance in their religious practices during the BJP's tenure.

Why this matters: The BJP's campaign strategy in Assam, led by Himanta Biswa Sarma, could set a precedent for the party's approach in other states with significant Muslim populations. The success or failure of this approach may have far-reaching implications for the political landscape of India in the 2024 general election and beyond.

The Assam Chief Minister has taken it upon himself to deliver 13 of the 14 Lok Sabha seats to the BJP in the 2024 Indian general election. The BJP has been working to strengthen its organizational machinery in the state since coming to power in 2016. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 9 of the 14 seats in Assam, while the Congress won 3 and the AIUDF won 1. Sarma acknowledged that the BJP's primary contest in Nowgong and Karimganj seats is with the AIUDF, and that the Congress is not even in the picture. "The entry of the AIUDF, which enjoys the support of Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, has made matters more challenging for the Congress," Sarma stated.

Key Takeaways

• Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam CM, leading BJP's 2024 election efforts in the state.
• Sarma engaging with Muslim voters in Assam, a traditionally challenging territory for BJP.
• Sarma's new approach focuses on performance and welfare schemes for poor Muslims.
• BJP faces challenges in North East, including Manipur violence, in 2024 elections.
• Sarma aims to deliver 13 of 14 Lok Sabha seats to BJP in Assam in 2024.