In a major development churning Assam’s political landscape, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has once again showcased his strategic acumen. Months before the state gears up for crucial Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has formally welcomed the Asom Gana Morcha (AGM) into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), a move that significantly redraws the state’s political map.
The alliance, sealed in Guwahati, is being hailed in BJP circles as a masterstroke that bolsters the ruling front and further weakens a fragmented opposition.
A Strategic Masterstroke: Why the BJP-AGM Alliance Matters
The Asom Gana Morcha (AGM), while a relatively smaller player, commands considerable influence in several pockets of Upper Assam, particularly among the Ahom community and a section of the tea garden tribes. Led by veteran regionalist leader Prafulla Barua, the AGM was born out of a sentiment that older regional parties had lost their way and has been a vocal proponent of indigenous rights. By bringing this key regional voice into the NDA, Himanta’s BJP gets a new ally that adds both votes and credibility.
Pre-empting the Opposition: A Classic Himanta Move
For Chief Minister Sarma, this alliance is a multi-pronged strategic victory.
First, it acts as a pre-emptive strike. The AGM was being actively courted by the Congress-led opposition bloc, which saw Barua’s party as a potential bridge to reclaim lost ground. By bringing the AGM into its fold, the BJP has not only strengthened its own ranks but has also neutralized a potential threat. It’s a classic Himanta move: turn an opponent’s potential asset into your own.
Second, the alliance helps the BJP fortify its narrative as the true custodian of Assamese identity. The party has often faced criticism for being “Delhi-centric,” and aligning with the AGM, a party rooted in local politics, provides the BJP with powerful regional credentials. This move directly counters the narrative of rival regional parties like the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and Raijor Dal.
The Road to 2026: Consolidating Votes Ahead of Polls
The timing of this political realignment is no coincidence. With the Assembly polls on the horizon, the BJP is leaving nothing to chance. This move is aimed at consolidating the non-Muslim vote bank and preventing splits that could benefit the opposition in constituencies with complex demographics. By securing the AGM’s dedicated vote share, however small, the BJP can tip the scales in dozens of closely contested seats.
The opposition, predictably, has been left scrambling. Congress leaders have labelled the alliance an “opportunistic marriage of convenience,” while an AJP spokesperson called it a “sad day for Assam,” claiming another regional voice has been “swallowed by the BJP‘s election machinery.”
However, for voters, this development presents a clearer, more formidable ruling front. The NDA in Assam, which already includes the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), now looks more robust.
As the political dust settles, one thing is clear: this new alliance is a calculated move to dominate the narrative, demoralise the opposition, and build an almost unassailable fortress ahead of the 2026 electoral battle in Assam.
