Saying AGP is free to contest from whatever seats they like, Assam chief minister said BJPwould take a final decision by February 15 on the seats it would not contest.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addresses the media on BJP’s alliance with AGP and the Special Revision of voter rolls (Photo: File)
NEW DELHI: Putting to rest speculation about any possible rift within the ruling coalition, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest the upcoming Assam Assembly elections in alliance with its long-time partner Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).
Sarma said the BJP’s alliance with the AGP would continue with complete respect for the regional party and without any pressure on it over seat-sharing arrangements. “We respect the AGP. There is absolutely no pressure on them. They are free to contest elections from any seats they choose,” the Chief Minister said.
He further said that the BJP would take a final decision by February 15 on the seats it would not contest. “The seats that the BJP will not contest will be decided by February 15. If the AGP chooses to field candidates in more seats, the contests will remain friendly,” Sarma said, highlighting the flexibility within the alliance.
Meanwhile, touching upon the contentious issue of the Special Revision (SR) of the electoral rolls ahead of the Assembly elections, Sarma maintained that the exercise would be carried out strictly and without any political interference. His comments came amid allegations by opposition parties, including the Congress and the Raijor Dal, which have accused the BJP of attempting to delete the names of voters who traditionally do not support the saffron party.
Calling these allegations “completely baseless,” the Chief Minister said that identifying and objecting to suspicious entries in the voter list is a lawful and legitimate process. He also dismissed accusations made by Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi against BJP state president Dilip Saikia, saying such claims should not be given undue importance.
“I have clearly instructed booth-level agents to raise objections against any suspicious names during the revision process. I have myself said this openly—file complaints against as many suspicious people as possible,” Sarma said. He stressed that the right to file objections is not confined to any one political party.
“This right is not exclusive to the BJP. The Congress and all other political parties enjoy the same freedom,” he added, while noting that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have also been directed to flag and report any doubtful or questionable entries in the electoral rolls.
Emphasising the need for a clean and accurate voter list, the Chief Minister said the Special Revision exercise is vital to protect the democratic process in Assam. “Ensuring an accurate and genuine voter list is crucial for the future of Assam, and there will be no compromise in this regard,” he said.
Although, the Assam Congress has voiced serious concerns over the draft electoral rolls released on December 30 after the completion of the Special Revision. The party alleged that the list includes “temporary voters” from other states, terming it an attempt at “vote chori” to benefit the ruling BJP ahead of the polls.
Former Congress MP Ripun Bora alleged that a major conspiracy was unfolding involving the Election Commission, the BJP and the Assam government in the ongoing Special Revision exercise. He further claimed that although the draft voter list shows a 1.35 per cent increase in voters, it lacks clarity, alleging that it appears to be a repetition of the 2025 voter list and leaves little scope for filing objections.
Responding to these allegations, Sarma reiterated that the preparation and revision of electoral rolls fall solely under the authority of the Election Commission of India. “There is time until January 22 to raise objections. Political parties should use institutional mechanisms instead of resorting to protests,” the Chief Minister said.
