Assam Elections 2016: 7 reasons why BJP swept the state

After 15 years in power, Tarun Gogoi has been ousted from Assam. The masterstroke of Amit Shah to portray Sarbananda Sonowal as the CM candidate and joining hands with AGP has borne fruit. 

As per latest reports, BJP alliance is ahead in 73 out of 126 seats. Congress is ahead in just 31 seats and AIUDF which was touted as a possible kingmaker is ahead in only 12 seats. This is the first time that the  lotus has bloomed in Assam. 

Here are the seven reasons why the BJP won the Assam battle this time. 

Corruption-ridden governance of the Congress

Whatever the Congress-led government said about its works for the overall development of the State in its past three terms, the people of Assam were not satisfied with the implementation of government schemes and programmes at all. It is well known that large-scale loot of public money by a section of people in power and officials is the main reason behind lack of development in the state, which contributed to the defeat of the Congress. The BJP promised a corruption-free government in the state if it comes to power. 

The wave of parivartan 

BJP’s call for change in the state hugely worked in its favour. In its poll promises, the saffron party assured the people of changes in all spheres— governance, economic development, reducing unemployment, flood control, improvement in law and order and few other issues which are based on the party’s overall development agenda.    

Anti-incumbency against Gogoi

Even before the exit poll results were out, the anti-incumbency factor against the present Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi played a crucial factor. Gogoi was well aware of this playing against him but thought that he would somehow make it. 

Congress’ traditional vote bank didn’t work

Assam has a large number of Muslim and tea tribe population, and the ruling Congress traditionally uses this section of population as its main vote bank. A majority of the seats have a large Muslim population. But this time, the party’s vote-bank politics didn’t work in its favour and helped the BJP sweep the polls. The googly here was thrown by the AIUDF led by Badruddin Ajmal, who has a strong base. Due to split in the Muslim vote between the AIUDF and the Congress, the BJP gained big. In the tea garden areas of Upper Assam, people turned to the saffron party in a big way, as it did in 2014. In the Northern Lower Assam, the BJP's allies were strong than Congress and swung the fortune in favour of the BJP. 

The slogan 'Jati, Mati Aaru Bheti'worked like a magic

During the poll campaigns, the intense call of the BJP to protect the State’s indigenous people and their land and identity from factors like illegal cross-border immigration into Assam and other factors, has worked tremendously in its favour. 

The Himanta factor

Once the most powerful leader in the Congress, Himanta Biswa Sarma’s joining the saffron party was one of the main factors behind the BJP’s convincing victory. Himanta is a very popular leader, especially among the youths here, and has a mass appeal. He is also known for being a very good strategist.   

Young Assamese voters rejected dynastic politics 

The problem with the grand old Congress is its obsession with the Gandhi family. Most of the Congress leaders outside the Gandhi parivar have no mass base and a large number of them are ageing. Rahul Gandhi was unable to build up a team of young leaders who have a mass appeal and steer the party to victory. Many of the local leaders too tried to nurture their sons and daughters to be part of the leadership, neglecting deserving youngsters in the party. Therein, lies the real rot in the Congress.