BJP Unveils Ambitious Election Manifesto for Assam Assembly Polls
BJP's Promises for Assam's Future
On Tuesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which governs Assam, presented its election manifesto for the upcoming Assembly elections. The party has pledged to raise the monthly financial assistance for women under the Orunodoi scheme to Rs 3,000 if they secure a third consecutive term in office.
Currently, beneficiaries receive Rs 1,250 each month.
The manifesto outlines 31 commitments, including the enforcement of the 1950 Immigrants Expulsion from Assam Act, aimed at accelerating the identification and removal of illegal immigrants and reclaiming land reportedly encroached upon by them.
This Act empowers district commissioners and senior police officials to expel 'illegal migrants' from Assam without going through the Foreigners’ Tribunals.
In September, the Assam Cabinet approved a standard operating procedure under this Act, which previously required cases involving undocumented migrants to be processed through the Foreigners’ Tribunals.
These tribunals are quasi-judicial entities that handle citizenship issues and have faced criticism for their perceived arbitrariness and bias, often declaring individuals as foreigners due to minor errors or insufficient documentation.
Since April 2025, police in various BJP-ruled states have been detaining Bengali-speaking individuals, primarily Muslims, demanding proof of their Indian citizenship.
Some individuals have been forcibly sent to Bangladesh after failing to establish their citizenship, while others have returned to India after authorities confirmed their nationality.
In Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has consistently asserted the government's dedication to achieving an 'infiltration-free' state, claiming that approximately 35 to 40 'illegal' immigrants are being expelled weekly.
Joining my distinguished colleagues at the launch of the BJP’s Sankalp Patra for Assam.#BJPSankalp4VikasitAssam https://t.co/klq6AtDPdG
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 31, 2026
BJP's Commitment to UCC and Anti-'Love Jihad' Legislation
In its manifesto, the BJP also committed to enhancing legislative measures to protect the culture, heritage, and rights of Assam's residents by implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
The UCC aims to establish a uniform set of laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption for all citizens, replacing community-specific laws that are often based on religious texts.
The introduction of a common personal law has long been a priority for the BJP, with several states under its governance making strides toward its implementation.
Uttarakhand became the first state to adopt the UCC post-independence in January 2025, while Gujarat's Assembly passed similar legislation on March 24 amidst opposition protests. Goa has had a common civil code since the Portuguese Civil Code was enacted in 1867.
Legal experts have noted that Uttarakhand's UCC primarily reflects Hindu personal law, potentially marginalizing the personal law practices of minority communities.
Furthermore, the BJP's manifesto indicates plans to introduce a robust law against 'love jihad', a term used in Hindutva discourse to suggest that Muslim men deceive Hindu women into relationships for conversion purposes. The Union home ministry has clarified that no legal definition for 'love jihad' exists in Indian law.
Investment in Infrastructure and Education
The BJP has pledged to invest Rs 5 lakh crore to establish Assam as India's eastern gateway, ensuring the timely completion of infrastructure projects, including roads, railways, airways, and waterways.
Additionally, the party aims to create two lakh government jobs and promote self-employment opportunities for the youth, along with providing financial support of up to Rs 5 lakh to assist 10 lakh young entrepreneurs under the Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan initiative.
The manifesto also promises Rs 25,000 to new graduates to help them prepare for employment through the Chief Minister’s Jibon Prerana scheme.
Moreover, the BJP has committed to offering free education from kindergarten through postgraduate studies for economically disadvantaged individuals.
During the manifesto launch, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the document reflects a decade of transformation in Assam that the Congress party failed to achieve in 60 years, as reported by a Media House.
The elections are scheduled for April 9, with vote counting set for May 4.