Himanta’s ‘Miya’ label caught on Cong, weaned away voters | India Information
GUWAHATI: Twin blows on the prime. Gaurav Gogoi and Debabrata Saikia defeated. A marketing campaign constructed on sharp assaults — together with on CM’s household — and a pitch for justice for Zubeen Garg. Little to point out on the poll. Congress is left with a slim, largely Muslim-majority base and shrinking attain in Assam.The social gathering received 19 seats — all Muslim-majority constituencies. Its footprint has tightened to pockets as soon as shared with AIUDF, which has now light, handing Congress a consolidated however restricted vote financial institution.CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s sustained messaging seems to have lower by. He solid Congress as a ‘Miya’ social gathering — a time period for Bengali-speaking Muslims from Bangladesh. The label caught, weakening Congress’ capability to develop amongst indigenous tribal and Hindu voters.Delimitation in 2023 compounded the issue. Muslim-majority seats fell from 35 to 22, narrowing the social gathering’s electoral runway. Muslims account for about 30% of Assam’s citizens — roughly 75 lakh voters — and stay influential in these constituencies, however the focus has remoted Congress politically.A late six-party alliance did not shift momentum. Losses in higher and northern Assam underlined the slide. Assam Congress chief Gogoi and chief of the opposition Saikia — sons of former CMs Tarun Gogoi and Hiteswar Saikia, respectively — each fell of their household strongholds.For Congress, the decision is stark. The street again runs by constituencies it not instructions.Inside Congress, unease surfaced. Gogoi didn’t remark. Occasion’s Ripun Bora promised a evaluate. “EVM manipulation is feasible — outcomes don’t match Gen Z anger over delayed justice for Zubeen or fury at value rises,” he stated, including many would query the end result because the CM had predicted a near-100seat tally for NDA, a projection echoed by exit polls.
