GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday flagged off the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) “Jan Ashirwad Yatra” from the historic Gupteshwar Devalaya in Dhekiajuli, Sonitpur district, marking the party’s formal preparations for the 2026 Assembly elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party has been in power in Assam since 2016 and is aiming for a third consecutive term.
The first phase of the yatra will run from February 28 to March 9, covering over 400 kilometres across 22 key Assembly constituencies in Sonitpur, Biswanath and Lakhimpur districts. Senior party leaders present at the launch included Union Minister Pabitra Margherita and BJP Assam President Bhabesh Kalita.
Margherita described the yatra as an opportunity to seek the blessings of the people and expressed confidence in the BJP securing a third term. Sakila termed it a “journey towards development” under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that the government has delivered significant improvements in infrastructure, healthcare and economic growth over the past decade.
STRATEGIC OUTREACH BEFORE 2026 POLLS
The yatra is seen as a calibrated pre-election mobilisation drive ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled for April-May 2026. The BJP plans to connect with nearly one lakh people daily through public meetings, temple visits and direct citizen outreach. By commencing the campaign from a temple, the party signalled its intent to align with cultural and religious sentiments in the state. Leaders believe sustained ground engagement could prove decisive in closely contested constituencies.
The party has also moved to consolidate support among key voter groups. The recent decision of the state government to increase tea workers’ wages by 30 is viewed as an outreach effort towards tea garden communities, a crucial electoral constituency in Assam. The BJP aims to foreground governance achievements and welfare measures to counter opposition criticism on unemployment and flood management.
CONGRESS COUNTERS WITH SAMAY PARIVARTAN YATRA
Meanwhile, the Indian National Congress has launched its own “Samay Parivartan Yatra,” which began on February 26 from Golaghat. The campaign is led by Assam Congress President and MP Gaurav Gogoi.
In contrast to the BJP’s development-centric narrative, the Congress campaign focuses on criticism of the incumbent government. Gogoi accused the Chief Minister of fostering an atmosphere of fear to conceal corruption and promised political change in the state.
The Congress initiative is also framed as ‘Maati Bachao, Jati Bachao’ and draws inspiration from Rahul Gandhi’s earlier mass outreach programmes such as the Bharat Jodo Yatra and Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which the party credits with strengthening its presence in the Northeast during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
A Direct Contest Narrative
The contrast between the two yatras underscores divergent campaign strategies. The BJP is emphasising continuity, stability and its governance record, while the Congress is positioning itself as the vehicle for political change.
With both parties intensifying grassroots mobilisation and the 2026 Assembly elections drawing closer, Assam is heading toward a closely contested and politically significant electoral battle.
