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Assam needs new ideas. BJP, Congress aren’t offering any
The election manifesto appeals to the voter, to garner support; it lays the terms of the contract between the political party and the electorate. But manifestoes also carry a deeper message about the politics, values and vision of those who seek power over the people, in their name. The BJP’s manifesto in Assam and Congress’s “Five Guarantees”, both released earlier this week, show the ruling party and the principal opposition in poor light. The Himanta Biswa Sarma government has doubled down on divisive politics, relying on creating suspicion and fear, rather than offering a vision of hope. For its part, Congress has not challenged the government’s polarising politics head-on. Instead, its grand “guarantees” merely tinker with the existing welfare schemes and it seeks to co-opt cultural flashpoints like the death of singer Zubeen Garg.
The BJP’s manifesto echoes the spectres CM Sarma has often sought to raise. It promises implementation of the Uniform Civil Code, laws against “love jihad” and “land jihad” and more “pushbacks” against alleged illegal migrants from Bangladesh. The party seeks to achieve the latter through the recently revived Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950. The manifesto also mentions enhanced allocations under welfare schemes. Congress has promised Rs 50,000 to women in the state to “start and grow businesses”, Rs 25 lakh health insurance cover for families, an increase in senior citizens’ pensions and permanent pattas for indigenous inhabitants. Its promise of justice for Garg within 100 days is a cynical attempt to capitalise on the singer’s popularity, given that the Singapore police have ruled his death an accident.
Overall Analysis
The editorial presents a sharp critique of both major political parties in Assam — the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress — arguing that neither offers a meaningful or forward-looking vision for the state. It begins by explaining the theoretical importance of election manifestos as not just campaign tools but as reflections of a party’s ideology, priorities, and governance approach. This establishes a benchmark against which both parties are evaluated.
The editorial then criticizes the BJP, led by Himanta Biswa Sarma, for relying on divisive and polarising politics. The language here is strongly critical, using phrases like “creating suspicion and fear” and “divisive politics” to suggest that the ruling party is prioritizing identity-based issues over developmental vision. References to controversial themes such as “love jihad”, “land jihad”, and the Uniform Civil Code highlight how the manifesto focuses on ideological and cultural conflicts rather than governance innovation.
The criticism is not one-sided. The editorial equally questions Congress for failing to provide a strong alternative. Instead of directly confronting the BJP’s polarisation, it is portrayed as offering superficial solutions through welfare promises. Words like “tinker” and “co-opt” indicate that Congress is merely adjusting existing schemes and opportunistically leveraging emotional issues, such as the death of Zubeen Garg, to gain political mileage.
In the second paragraph, the tone becomes more detailed and analytical, listing specific promises from both manifestos. This factual detailing strengthens the argument that both parties are either focusing on divisive narratives or populist welfare schemes, rather than presenting innovative policy ideas for Assam’s long-term development.
Overall, the editorial maintains a balanced yet critical stance, arguing that the political discourse in Assam is stuck between polarisation and populism, with neither party offering transformative solutions. The language is assertive, evaluative, and grounded in political analysis, highlighting a lack of visionary leadership.
Important Vocabulary (5)
- Manifesto – a public declaration of policies and aims by a political party.
- Polarising – causing division or disagreement among people.
- Tinker – to make small changes without addressing the core issue.
- Co-opt – to adopt or take over something for one’s own use, often strategically.
- Cynical – believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; showing distrust.
Conclusion & Tone
The editorial concludes that Assam’s political landscape lacks fresh ideas and visionary leadership, with both BJP and Congress failing to rise above divisive or superficial approaches. It calls implicitly for a shift towards more constructive and innovative politics.
Tone: Critical, evaluative, and slightly disillusioned.
