“Sabka Vikas to Sabka Vinash”: Assam TMC Attacks BJP Over LPG Price Hike and Rising Cost of Living

GUWAHATI: The Assam unit of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) on Saturday strongly criticised the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state, accusing them of pushing the people of Assam into severe economic hardship through policies that allegedly favour big corporate groups over ordinary citizens.

The Assam Pradesh Trinamool Congress condemned the recent hike in LPG prices with domestic cylinders becoming costlier by ₹60 and commercial cylinders by ₹115 calling the move a direct assault on the common people.

Abhijit Majumder the Chairperson of the Media Department for the Assam Pradesh Trinamool Congress responded to the price increase by stating that the BJP government which previously promised "Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas" now shows signs of moving toward "Sabka Vinash".

“Despite repeated claims by the government that the country has sufficient reserves of fuel and gas, the burden of price hikes is repeatedly being imposed on ordinary citizens. The BJP government is pushing people into deeper economic distress,” Majumder said.

He also highlighted the sharp rise in the prices of essential commodities, saying the situation has become extremely difficult for the middle class and economically weaker sections.

“It is not only LPG; the prices of rice, pulses, edible oil, and even life-saving medicines have skyrocketed. For the middle class and the poor, arranging even a single day’s meal has become a challenge. The government has completely failed to regulate the market,” he said.

Majumder further alleged that the administration has surrendered to syndicates, leading to uncontrolled price rises in basic commodities such as potatoes and onions.

“The BJP, which once promised ‘Achhe Din’, has now exhausted the savings of ordinary citizens,” he added.

Electoral Roll Revision Concerns

The party expressed concern about the active protest which Mamata Banerjee, who serves as West Bengal Chief Minister and AITC Chairperson, leads against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The party reports that from November until now, 8.3% of voters' names have been removed from electoral rolls, which reduced the voter count from 7.66 crore to 7.04 crore.

Majumder expressed even greater concern about the situation because more than 60 lakh voters gained classification as “under adjudication,” which creates legal uncertainty about their voting rights just weeks before elections.

Banerjee accused the BJP of using name deletions to eliminate opposition voters in constituencies where they expect to lose.

“Women, minorities, and economically weaker sections are being disproportionately targeted in this process. Nearly 1.2 crore voters could ultimately be affected, which suggests a deliberate blueprint to influence electoral outcomes,” Majumder said.

The Assam Pradesh Trinamool Congress said the people of Assam must stand united against what it described as anti-people policies and alleged electoral conspiracies of the BJP.

“No government can remain in power for long by burdening citizens with rising prices while simultaneously undermining their democratic rights,” the party said, adding that Mamata Banerjee’s ongoing protest represents the beginning of a broader democratic movement against the alleged authoritarian and fascist tendencies of the BJP government.

Dulu Ahmed on Assam Elections

Meanwhile, Assam Trinamool Congress leader Dulu Ahmed said the party is preparing to contest the upcoming Assam Assembly elections independently, while also taking steps to avoid splitting anti-BJP votes.

“We will contest the elections on our own. In West Bengal, we have already defeated the BJP,” Ahmed said.

He clarified that the All India Trinamool Congress would not field candidates in all 126 Assembly constituencies in Assam and would instead focus on select seats.

“We will not contest in constituencies where there are strong anti-BJP candidates. Our aim is to prevent the division of votes,” he said.

According to Ahmed, the party is likely to contest around 35–40 seats in the state.

Speaking about the party’s electoral plans, Ahmed said the Trinamool Congress intends to field candidates in all six constituencies in Kamrup district. He added that he himself is likely to contest the election from either Chamaria or Rangia constituencies.

“Everyone knows that Rakibuddin is the brother of the Chief Minister. I will contest from Chamaria, and in 2026 his political career will come to an end,” said Dulu Ahmed, referring to Rakibuddin Ahmed.

Appealing to voters of the constituency, he said:

“I appeal to the people of Chamaria to support me, even if you belong to the Congress.”

Taking a dig at opposition leaders, Ahmed also targeted Lurinjyoti Gogoi and Akhil Gogoi.

“Those who once projected themselves as the chief ministerial face in 2021 have now been reduced to contesting in just four seats,” he said.

Ahmed also said that there is a possibility that Mamata Banerjee may visit Assam to campaign during the elections. 

Criticising Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over remarks about the Miya community, Ahmed said:

“The Chief Minister speaks lightly about the Miya community. But the people have now understood his statements.”

He also predicted that the Indian National Congress would perform strongly in the elections.

“The Congress will win in 25 constituencies,” Ahmed said.

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