Transgender Bill Sparks Massive Backlash As Activists Say Identity Cannot Be Decided By The State

In TOI’s special election series Mood Of The States, political analyst and C-Voter Founder-Director Yashwant Deshmukh breaks down why Himanta Biswa Sarma appears to have a decisive edge in Assam even before voting begins. Deshmukh points to Sarma’s deep-rooted popularity, which cuts across party lines and even finds resonance among opposition supporters, including the Indian National Congress. He describes Sarma as a dominant political force in the Northeast, even likening him to Amit Shah, and calls him a unique blend of Chanakya and Donald Trump. The analysis also looks ahead, outlining what the Congress must do to rebuild and stay relevant in the upcoming Assam polls.