Assam Chief Minister Launches Wall Painting Campaign Ahead of 2026 Elections
Campaign Launch and Election Preparations
On Monday, Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated a wall painting initiative as part of the party's campaign for the upcoming 2026 assembly elections. Sarma stated in an interview that the campaign will be completed within the set timeframe. He emphasized that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds a robust position in Assam, with candidates for nearly 50% of the assembly seats already identified. If the party leadership requests a list of candidates for 50 seats, they could provide it by this evening. Notably, the party will not be accepting applications from candidates; instead, suggestions will come from the public and party workers without any fees involved, contrasting with the Congress party's practice of charging between 3 to 5 crore rupees for candidacy.
Criticism of Opposition and Land Encroachment Issues
Sarma criticized the Congress party for allegedly demanding large sums from candidates seeking tickets, claiming this practice is ongoing for 22-23 seats. He also addressed land encroachment issues, announcing a campaign to remove encroachments from approximately 5,000 bighas of land in Tezpur. He expressed concern for the Miah community, stating it is unfortunate that they have to vote for Congress and pay hefty amounts for candidacy, only to find the party unresponsive in times of need.
Coalition Discussions and Future Plans
Regarding coalition matters, Sarma mentioned that BJP's state president, Dilip Saikia, is in talks with the Assam Gana Parishad (AGP) about seat-sharing arrangements. He expressed confidence that these discussions would be finalized by February 15. Additionally, the BJP is also engaging in negotiations concerning Bodo and Rabha communities. The wall painting campaign is viewed as an initial outreach effort in preparation for the 2026 elections. Earlier, Sarma honored 1,534 students from Bezera and Sualkuchi for their outstanding performance in the HSLC and HS examinations during a ceremony held in Changsari, Kamrup district.