BJP’s two-pronged approach in Assam

As Himanta Biswa Sarma seeks a second term as CM, concerns over polarisation mount in the state. Archis Mohan explains

- Archis Mohan

On the afternoon of April 5, the AB Vajpayee Bhavan, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) Assam unit headquarters in Guwahati’s Beltola area, bustled with young men and women as they went about their tasks of keeping the party’s poll machinery in shape for the voting in the state’s 126 seats on April 9.

Six kilometres away, the Congress’ older and more modest office in Bhangagarh had a sedate atmosphere. Groups of middle-aged men sat in groups holding aimless discussions about the dismal prospects of their party in an election that increasingly looks one-sided.

Beyond the easy conclusion that ‘Assam’s Assembly polls this time are highly polarised on communal lines is the BJP’s deft strategy of turning its campaign into a “womendriven election”. This might not have translated into giving more opportunities to women candidates, but the focus of its promises are women, who have shown up in larger numbers than their male counterparts at the party's meetings.

Of the total 722 candidates in the fray, only 58 are women. Of these, the BJP has fielded seven women candidates in the 91 seats it is contesting, while the Congress has fielded 14 women in the 114 seats it is contesting.