Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate in Assam. But for the party cadre, leadership as well as voters, the BJP’s most important man these days is someone who was once the “blue-eyed boy” of Congress leader and incumbent Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. A former State Minister and once the Congress’ chief strategist, Himanta Biswa Sarma, is now spearheading the BJP’s campaign in the north-eastern State. Sarma spoke to BusinessLine on why the BJP is projecting Badruddin Ajmal of the All India United Democratic Front as its chief rival, and about whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi is touring Assam much less than all his previous campaigns. Excerpts from the interview:
It seems as if the Congress is winning the Muslims back from Badruddin Ajmal. That should worry you.
The perception in Guwahati about Ajmal getting squeezed is not correct. The top enemy of the BJP in Assam is Badruddin Ajmal. We consider him a force vis-à-vis Tarun Gogoi. I will not accept the theory that Congress will get Muslim votes and will bypass Ajmal. Ajmal is being sponsored by communal Muslim organisations. He appeals to Muslims to vote for him. He does not appeal to Hindus for votes. He is a bigger threat than Gogoi in Assam. The problem with Gogoi is non-performance and the prospect that he will align with the AIUDF in the event of a hung Assembly. Our difference with AIUDF is on principle. We are fighting this election basically against Ajmal.
That was in the context of development. But what he basically said was that the Central government will not let the Bangladeshi intruders come and the State government [if the BJP wins] will not let them stay. Amit Shah ji has spoken against Ajmal in all his meetings. The PM has to speak at a different level but our basic fight is with communal politics on principle. We cannot allow people like Badruddin Ajmal to be either king or kingmaker. Our entire campaign is nuanced on the issue of identity besides, of course, the aspirations of the people which Gogoi has not fulfilled. Once a thoroughly communal person like Ajmal becomes either king or kingmaker, everything is over.
The PM is addressing fewer rallies in Assam than he did in Bihar or Delhi. Has the wave receded?
The PM addresses rallies as per the requirement of the State party. This is a very local election. We need the blessings of the PM and he has addressed six meetings and he is going to address four more. Ten meetings by the PM is not a small number. Bihar is a huge State where he had to make trips four-five times. Assam, being a comparatively smaller State, he has come twice. It’s not more, or less. It is relative and [is] what is required. Amit Shah has addressed six rallies in the first phase and then again for the second phase, he will be here for over four-five days.
Amit Shah’s campaign proved to be counter-productive in Bihar but he is more visible in Assam. Why is that?
Amit Shah is more accepted in Assam because people think he is the only one who can take on Ajmal. I have noticed that the attendance in his meetings has increased. This is because when Amit Shah says we will not allow Ajmal to come to power, people take it seriously.
You have fielded strong candidates against the Congress’ star campaigners. What was the logic behind it?
We fielded our MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa against Gogoi because we wanted to confine him to his own constituency. When we made our strategy, we figured who in the Congress could campaign outside his/her own constituency – who can damage us. We have put up strong candidates against them and now they are grounded. The Chief Minister, after 15 years, is campaigning in his constituency.
Earlier, he used to visit his constituency only to file his nomination and cast his vote. Now, he is campaigning in Titabor, addressing six meetings in street corners.
I am not going to my own constituency even for a single minute. But he is going.
There is a strong sentiment in the BJP against the AGP. How does the alliance work in the face of such strong antipathy?
You see the AGP and the BJP have a peculiar problem. I was an outsider so I can look at it dispassionately.
Most of the AGP leaders have joined the BJP over the years. Some of them left their parent party on a sour note. Now, they are not comfortable with the BJP aligning with the AGP.
But the original BJP has no such issues. But the phase of conflict between AGP and BJP is over.
Now everyone is campaigning for each other. PM has addressed a rally of Bokaghat where the AGP is contesting. The AGP President (Atul Bora) went to file the nomination of Sarbanand Sonowal.
Has Sonowal campaigned for you in your constituency?
No one has campaigned in my constituency, including myself. Only my wife is there to take care of the election.