Local Muslims will always back BJP: Himanta in Barak Valley

Silchar: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday reignited the debate over identity and voting patterns in Barak Valley, asserting that ‘local Muslims’ will continue to support BJP, while ‘foreigners’ or ‘mias’ won’t.Speaking to reporters after laying the foundation stone of a 340-metre RCC bridge over the Barak river at Gandhi Ghat, Sarma said Muslims, who have lived in the valley for generations, have always supported BJP.“Had our party not got the support of local Muslims, we wouldn’t have won the Karimganj Lok Sabha seat. It is because of their votes in Hailakandi and Sribhumi that we could defeat Congress,” the CM said.With the assembly elections due early next year, Sarma said BJP was confident of sweeping 10 of the 13 seats in Barak Valley, post-delimitation.

“Which three seats I have left for the ‘mias’ are known to all. We will focus on the remaining 10,” he said.Barak Valley — comprising of Cachar, Sribhumi and Hailakandi — has 13 assembly seats after delimitation. While Sribhumi and Hailakandi are Muslim-majority districts, Cachar has a marginal Hindu majority. In the 2021 polls, BJP had won seven seats, AIUDF five and Congress three, respectively.The CM, however, chose to play down AIUDF leaders reportedly joining BJP’s ally AGP, ahead of the polls next year.

Earlier, Sarma laid the foundation stone for the Gandhi Ghat bridge, which will be built at a cost of over Rs 79 crore, under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund. The bridge will connect Madhuramukh with Silchar, cutting down the distance by nearly 8km, and is scheduled to be completed within two years.Highlighting his govt’s infrastructural development of the region, Sarma cited Annapurna Setu, Badri Setu and Sonai Setu, besides the ongoing projects at Silghat and Karatigram. The CM said approval for the proposed Doloo airport was likely to come soon, while an elevated corridor for Silchar, worth Rs 564 crore, had been cleared.