Assam election results 2026: Is 'immigration' narrative still the BJP's biggest weapon

NEW DELHI: Whether the BJP-led NDA secures a third consecutive term in Assam will be known when votes cast in the April 9 assembly polls are counted on Monday.

Ahead of the polls, the “infiltrator” narrative emerged as one of the BJP’s central electoral planks, with the party campaigning aggressively on the promise of curbing illegal immigration, an issue it has consistently been linked to identity, land, and security concerns in the northeastern state.

The charge was led by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, a former Congress leader, whose government repeatedly “pushed back” alleged illegal immigrants to Bangladesh as part of an intensified enforcement strategy. The administration also carried out eviction drives in districts such as Darrang and Nagaon, targeting what it described as encroachments linked to undocumented migrants.

Sarma's remarks referring to “Miyas” sparked widespread condemnation, with critics arguing that the term—traditionally used for Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam—is often deployed pejoratively to imply Bangladeshi origin, raising concerns about communal polarisation.

Controversy also erupted over an AI-generated video posted by the Assam BJP on X. The video purportedly showed Sarma aiming a rifle and firing at two individuals—one depicted wearing a skull cap and the other with a beard—accompanied by the caption “point-blank shot.” The post was taken down following backlash.

However, undeterred by criticism, the BJP continued to reinforce its campaign messaging on “illegal immigrants,” with senior leaders—including Union home minister Amit Shah—asserting that “every infiltrator” in Assam would be deported within five years if the party remains in power.

Supporters of the BJP argue that such measures are necessary to address concerns over “demographic change” in Assam. Critics, however, have raised questions about due process, the reliability of identification mechanisms, and the broader humanitarian and social implications of both the rhetoric and the proposed policy actions.

Exit polls have projected a landslide victory for the NDA. However, such forecasts do not always align with the actual results.