Assam Elections- Rise of Himanta Biswa Sarma as Assam’s Hindutva Mass leader

Assam witnessed the first and bloody demonstrations against the CAA in 2019 December. The atmosphere was totally against the BJP and it was widely estimated that in the ensuing elections a year ahead the BJP would hardly get less than 20 seats. The massive presence in the public meetings of AASU General Secretary Lurin Jyoti Gogoi and anarchist Akhil Gogoi were churning the public sentiments. But here was a young leader who stood like a solid rock in support of the CAA and within 48 hours was seen organizing public rallies in the support of the Central Act. Yes, he was Himanta Biswa Sarma, who turned the anti-CAA tide in Assam and helped the BJP to be number one in the power game in this northeastern state.
He knew he was playing the highest political gamble. But with his popularity and acceptance as a mass leader in all sections of the society, Himanta Biswa Sarma handled the situation deftly and brought the BJP at the front ranking position in the present election scenario in the state. Bengali Hindus, Assamese identity and Hinduism
Originally a Congressman, Himanta Biswa Sarma left the grand old party to join the BJP just six years ago and today he is known and identified as the most popular face of BJP and Hindutva in the entire Northeast. Assamese sub nationalism dominates the intellectuals and masses as well in Assam. It was against this background Himanta Biswa Sarma ventured to carry the flag of Hindutva and BJP and succeeded in holding it high in the region.
Against this background Himanta Biswa Sarma openly supported the CAA that intended to accord citizenship to Bangladeshi Hindus and tried successfully with statistics to convince the people of Assam that in absence of Bengali Hindus it would be well-neigh difficult for the Assamese Hindus to send their representatives to the state assembly from at least 15 constituencies. Therefore, he tried to impress upon the Assamese people that Bengali Hindus are not the enemies of the Assamese people; on the contrary their presence is utmost necessary to safeguard the interests of Assam.
Assam Sahitya Sabha has been the inspiration of Assamese sub nationalism and there was no place for Assamese Hindutva in its scheme of things. But using his political acumen Sarma convinced former Assam Sahitya Sabha president Parmananda Rajbanshi to contest election as BJP candidate from Sipajhar constituency. This has major social and political undertones and impacts. This is the beginning of the entry of Hindutva ideology into the Assamese mainstream which had hitherto evaded the cultural, social and political streams of the Assamese society.
Clear stand on Bangladeshi infiltrators
Himanta Biswa Sarama had to face strong criticism due to his decisions regarding starting of ‘Mia Museum’ at Sankardeva Kala Kshetra or closing the Madarsas started by the then Muslim League government in 1935. But he had taken a firm stand on these issues underlining the fact that hereafter there would be no place for Bangladeshi infiltrators in the Assamese mainstream. We will differentiate between the original Assamese Muslims and Muslim infiltrators because the later are invaders. This stand had sent a clear and clean message to the Assamese society.
While placing the Madarsa Bill in the Vidhan Sabha, Sarma said in his speech: “We could place this bill because we did not want the votes of people who produce 10-12 children, send the innocent housewife out of the house, and openly advocate for establishing an Islamic state. You may want their votes and therefore, you are opposing this bill; it is natural. We will wait and get the votes of literate Muslims after 20 years!”
Do you indulge in religious polarization?
In response to this question, Himanta Biswa Sarma says, “if Badruddin Ajmal, sporting a beard and a cap can contest elections in alliance with the Congress and give assurance on restarting Madrasas by the government, there is bound to be religious polarization and we will do it. The already weakened Congress fallen into a new deep ditch by aligning with Badruddin Ajmal and the BJP which was cornered on the CAA issue, has got a new lease of life. Unique confluence of poll management and huge popularity
This will be my last election, Sarma declared in the last year. This is perhaps an indication as to who would lead the massive election system of the BJP in future.