At the BJP Assam State Executive Meeting that concluded on Saturday, 27th December, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the upcoming Assam Assembly election as a “civilisational fight”, making it clear that the political battle ahead goes beyond roads, bridges, and welfare schemes. Speaking directly to party workers, he said that while development remains central to the BJP’s politics, it cannot be meaningful if the identity of Assam is not safeguarded.

Mr Sarma stated that the BJP believes in development-driven politics, but survival and identity are equally critical for the people of Assam. According to him, the state is currently witnessing the presence of two different civilisations living side by side. He explained that one of these is a “5,000-year-old Sanatan civilisation that accepts all forms of prayer and believes in inclusion”. He added that this civilisation has always been open and welcoming, allowing everyone to live with dignity and respect.

However, he claimed that due to what he described as the weakness of the Indian National Congress and its long-standing politics of appeasement, another civilisation has slowly taken root in Assam. Mr Sarma warned that this shift has serious implications for the cultural and social balance of the state.

Referring to official data, the Chief Minister cited the 2011 Census, stating that Muslims constituted around 34 percent of Assam’s population at that time. He further said that if nearly 3 percent Assamese Muslims are excluded from this figure, then Muslims of Bangladeshi origin made up about 31 percent of the population. According to him, this number has been rising steadily, increasing by around 4 percent in every census. He claimed that if this trend continues, then by the 2027 Census, Bangladeshi-origin Miya Muslims could form close to 40 percent of Assam’s population.

The two-day BJP meeting was held in preparation for the Assam Assembly elections, which are expected to be conducted in March-April next year. The gathering saw the presence of several senior party leaders, including BJP’s new National Executive President Nitin Nabin, National Vice President Baijayant Jay Panda, National General Secretary B L Santosh, and other prominent leaders from the Assam BJP unit.

While outlining the party’s campaign message, Mr Sarma spoke in detail about the development work carried out during his tenure as Chief Minister. He said that various government welfare schemes have successfully reached people across Assam. Despite highlighting these achievements, he once again stressed that development alone is not sufficient and must go hand in hand with efforts to protect Assam’s cultural and social identity.

The Chief Minister also referred to the recent unrest in Bangladesh and the killing of Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das. The incident, which has drawn widespread attention and protests, has been reported by multiple media outlets in India and abroad. According to reports, Dipu Chandra Das was brutally killed amid unrest, leading to demonstrations and strong reactions from civil society groups and political leaders. (Source: The Economic Times, reporting on protests following the killing of Dipu Chandra Das)

Speaking on the idea of coexistence, Mr Sarma said that while many people talk about living together peacefully, the Sanatan faith is rooted in accepting everyone. In contrast, he claimed that the other side believes in exclusiveness. He added that for them, religion comes before the nation. He warned that incidents like the killing of Dipu Das in Bangladesh offer a glimpse into the kind of situation Assamese people might face 20 years from now if unity is not maintained.

Raising concerns related to national security, Mr Sarma spoke about the strategically important Siliguri Corridor, commonly known as the “Chicken Neck”, which connects Assam and the rest of the Northeast to mainland India. He said that many people living on both sides of this narrow corridor are not Hindus but are individuals who came from Bangladesh and settled there over time. He questioned where their loyalty would lie if a war were to break out between India and Bangladesh, especially when many of their relatives continue to live across the border.

Towards the end of his address, the Chief Minister called for unity and cautioned against internal divisions within society. He indirectly referred to recent tensions in Karbi Anglong between local Karbi tribal communities and Bihari Hindus who have settled in the region. Mr Sarma said that as long as he is alive, every election will remain a civilisational fight, one that must be fought with determination to protect the community and ensure that the “jati” continues to survive.