Lakhimpur (Assam): Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday confirmed the continuation of the BJP’s partnership with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) in the upcoming assembly elections. He stated that the regional party receives full respect within the alliance and is under no pressure regarding seat-sharing. He said, “We respect the AGP. There is absolutely no pressure on them. They are free to contest from wherever they want.”
He clarified that the BJP will decide by February 15 which seats it will not contest. He said, “The seats that the BJP will not contest will be decided by February 15. If the AGP fields candidates in more seats, the contest will be a friendly one.”
Reiterating his stance on the Special Revision (SR) of the voter list ahead of the assembly elections, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the exercise will be conducted strictly and without any political pressure.
Opposition parties like the Congress and Raijor Dal have alleged that the BJP is planning to identify and remove the names of voters who traditionally do not vote for the saffron party from the voter list. The opposition parties have also accused the ruling BJP of voter fraud.
Speaking to the media in Lakhimpur, CM Sarma termed these allegations “completely baseless” and said that Akhil Gogoi, who had leveled allegations of wrongdoing against BJP state president Dilip Saikia, should not be given undue importance for such actions. Sarma said, “Identifying suspicious names in the voter list and raising objections is within the purview of rights.”
Right to file objections against suspicious voters
CM Sarma said that he has given clear instructions to the Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to raise objections against any suspicious voters during the revision process. He said, “I myself have openly said this – file complaints against as many suspicious people as possible.” Chief Minister Sarma emphasized that the right to raise objections is not limited to any single party and applies equally to all political stakeholders. He said, “I have instructed the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to file complaints if they find any suspicious names. This freedom is not just for the BJP. The Congress and all other parties also have the same right.”
Stressing the importance of an accurate voter list, CM Sarma said that a special revision is necessary to safeguard the democratic process in Assam. He added, “Ensuring a correct and genuine voter list is crucial for the future of Assam. There will be no compromise in this process.”
