Assam CM Highlights National Stakes in West Bengal Elections
Significance of the West Bengal Assembly Elections
File image of Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma in West Bengal assembly polls campaign rally (Photo: @himantabiswa/X)
Kolkata, April 25: Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Chief Minister of Assam, emphasized that the ongoing assembly elections in West Bengal are crucial for every Indian, citing concerns over Bangladeshi infiltration affecting demographic stability not just in West Bengal but also in neighboring states.
During a press conference in Kolkata, he stated, "Every Indian has a stake in this election. The repercussions of infiltration extend beyond West Bengal and Assam, impacting Jharkhand, Bihar, and other regions."
Sarma warned that if the BJP fails to secure power in West Bengal, the state could risk becoming an "extension of Bangladesh" due to unchecked infiltration.
He remarked, "Once demographics are altered, they cannot be reversed," highlighting West Bengal's geographical significance, as it shares 54% of India's border with Bangladesh, compared to other northeastern states.
"The West Bengal election cannot be viewed in isolation from Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. An open border will have repercussions across all neighboring states," he added, noting that infiltrators from Malda and Murshidabad are using West Bengal as a transit point to reach other parts of India.
On the issue of border fencing, Sarma accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of hindering progress. He claimed, "Assam has completed 100% of its border fencing, and work is ongoing in Tripura, while West Bengal remains the only state lagging behind."
He alleged that the TMC's reluctance to cooperate stems from political motives and economic interests linked to illegal activities such as cow smuggling and drug trafficking.
Sarma pointed out that registered voters have surged in districts like Uttar Dinajpur, Malda, and Murshidabad, suggesting these areas are becoming increasingly similar to extensions of Bangladesh.
He expressed concern that the Muslim population in Assam has reached around 40%, warning that both states could lose their Hindu majority status within two decades if infiltration continues unchecked.
Should the BJP come to power in West Bengal, Sarma plans to request the formation of a task force with the chief ministers of West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram to address infiltration collaboratively.
He advocated for the extension of the Legal Immigrant Expulsion Act of 1948 to all five border states, noting that the Supreme Court has already upheld this law for Assam.
Sarma asserted that there are no Bengali Hindus in detention camps in Assam and highlighted that Odisha has surpassed West Bengal in key economic indicators. He projected that Assam's economy, currently growing at 12% annually, will exceed West Bengal's per capita income within two years.
"We aspire for West Bengal to compete with Gujarat and Maharashtra. The BJP's primary agenda is rapid industrialization alongside demographic protection," he stated.
Furthermore, Sarma expressed confidence that the BJP would secure over 100 of the 126 seats in Assam and approximately 110 of the 152 seats contested in the first phase of the West Bengal elections.
"It would not be surprising if the BJP won over 200 seats in West Bengal. The 93% voter turnout in phase one indicates a shift away from the fear that previously hindered open support for the BJP," he concluded.
Sarma characterized the West Bengal assembly elections as more than just a routine state election, framing it as a contest with significant civilizational implications for the entire nation, especially for its eastern and northeastern regions.