‘People Ignored For A Decade’: Assam Congress Hits Out At BJP

Guwahati: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party over its proposed state-wide public outreach initiative, branding the BJP’s newly unveiled “Suggestion Vans” programme as a belated and imitative exercise ahead of Assembly elections.

The Congress alleged that the ruling party’s move to solicit public feedback for its election manifesto comes after years of remaining disconnected from grassroots concerns. Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia said the BJP’s initiative closely resembles the Congress’s ongoing campaign, “Raijor Podulit, Raijor Congress”, which aims to gather public opinion to shape a people-centric manifesto.

“For the past decade, the BJP has governed according to its own wishes. Now that the Congress has begun actively listening to the people, they appear rattled and have suddenly decided to do the same,” Saikia said, questioning the timing and intent behind the ruling party’s outreach.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma flagged off a fleet of video-equipped vehicles in Guwahati, branded as “Suggestion Vans”, in the presence of state BJP president Dilip Saikia. The programme is designed to collect feedback from citizens for the party’s forthcoming Sankalp Patra, or vision document.

Criticising the BJP’s governance record, Saikia alleged that the party had failed to address public aspirations during its years in power. “What has the BJP done in the last ten years? Beyond enriching a select few and indulging in corruption, there is little to show. It is ironic that they have only now realised the importance of listening to the people,” he said.

Saikia also stated that the Congress would approach the Election Commission of India over the Chief Minister’s alleged derogatory use of the term ‘miya’, claiming such remarks could deepen communal divisions.

APCC president Gaurav Gogoi echoed the criticism, questioning the scale and funding of the BJP’s outreach exercise, which is reportedly set to involve around 75 vehicles traversing the state. “The BJP has enormous financial resources, sourced from coal, sand and stone syndicates, and liquor revenues. That is why government advertisements and hoardings dominate public spaces,” Gogoi alleged.

Despite this, he said, the government has failed to resolve basic administrative issues. “There is no money to pay salaries on time, clear dues under the Jal Jeevan Mission, or repair roads. Yet the Chief Minister is focused on building personal wealth using public funds,” Gogoi claimed.

Responding to the Chief Minister’s assertion that he had exposed Gogoi’s alleged links to Pakistan, the Congress leader dismissed the charge as baseless. “People now know who is lying. As Rahul Gandhi has said, if the Congress comes to power, the Chief Minister will have to face the law. History shows that when under pressure, he may once again abandon his party,” Gogoi remarked.

On Sarma’s remark comparing Rajiv Bhawan to a political Istemah, Gogoi said public response mattered more than political barbs. “I listen to the Chief Minister only when he speaks on issues affecting the people of Assam. Despite traffic congestion and long waiting hours, people gathered in large numbers at Rajiv Bhawan. That shows their desire for a stronger Congress,” he said.

Reiterating the party’s broader vision, Gogoi added, “Our goal is to build a greater Assam—an Assam that is productive, inclusive and progressive.”

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