In Assam, challenge of governance

The massive turnout of dignitaries at the swearing-in ceremony of Himanta Biswa Sarma underlined how significant Assam has become for the BJP and the broader National Democratic Alliance. The presence of PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and several chief ministers reflected the ruling party’s confidence and satisfaction over its achievement in the state. Sarma’s return for a second consecutive term marks a decisive political consolidation.

Among the many leaders who crossed over from the Congress to the BJP, few have adapted themselves so completely to the BJP’s organisational culture and Hindutva politics as Sarma. The electoral verdict is emphatic. The NDA’s tally of 102 seats in the 126-member Assembly, with the BJP alone winning 82, gives the party a commanding mandate and makes the occasion memorable not merely as a ceremonial event but as a political milestone in the Northeast. Yet, history repeatedly shows that overwhelming majorities do not automatically guarantee good governance.

Minority governments, including the first-term administration of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, have often governed with greater stability and sobriety than governments enjoying brute majorities. Conversely, the government of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, despite its unprecedented majority, failed to complete its full term. Sarma’s real challenge, therefore, begins after the celebrations. During the election campaign, several divisive themes were raised with the apparent objective of polarising voters, and the results indicate that the strategy succeeded.

However, electoral success is only one part of democratic politics. Fulfilling promises and governing responsibly are far more difficult tasks. Across several states, including Maharashtra, Delhi and Bihar, many assurances made by the BJP remain delayed or unfulfilled. Some promises may indeed have been economically impractical, but political expediency cannot justify commitments that cannot realistically be honoured.

For Assam to move forward, governance must rise above electoral polarisation. Development cannot be sustainable unless every community feels secure and included in the state’s progress. Persistent rhetoric about infiltration and citizenship loses credibility when the same political establishment controls the military, paramilitary and police machinery tasked with border security. No society can prosper while large sections of its population continue to live under the constant shadow of suspicion regarding their citizenship and identity.

The oath publicly taken by Sarma and his Cabinet imposes a constitutional and moral obligation to govern impartially and ensure that the benefits of development reach all citizens, irrespective of religion, caste or political affiliation. In 2014, Modi came to power promising good governance and “Sab Ka Vikas.” Assam now offers the BJP an opportunity to demonstrate that slogan in practice. Sarma’s government will ultimately be judged not by the scale of its electoral victory but by whether it can ensure that no Assamese citizen is left behind in the march towards development.