Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday declared that eviction drives would be intensified across the state if the BJP returns to power in the upcoming assembly elections, announcing a target of clearing five lakh bighas (over 1.65 lakh acres) of land from alleged encroachment.
The announcement came during the party’s ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’, where he symbolically received a “bulldozer salute” from supporters.
The second day of the BJP’s march began from Jagiroad under the leadership of Sarma, accompanied by Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia. The yatra travelled through Morigaon, Raha and Nagaon before concluding at Barhampur, drawing party workers and supporters along the route.
At Jagiroad, party workers standing atop ten bulldozers showered flower petals on the Chief Minister as his open SUV passed beneath them, in what organisers described as a symbolic gesture backing the government’s eviction policy.
Addressing the rally, Sarma said the BJP government would clear five lakh bighas of land in its next term. He asserted that alleged illegal infiltrators, particularly those accused of encroaching on forest land and areas under tribal belts and blocks, would not be allowed to remain if the party secures a third consecutive term in office.
The Chief Minister pointed out that significant progress had already been made. Referring to his statement in the Assembly on February 19, he said around 1.5 lakh bighas (over 49,500 acres) of land had been freed from encroachment over the past five years.
Sarma maintained that public support for the BJP was based on multiple issues. He said during the yatra, many people were approaching him to express gratitude — some for employment opportunities, others for land allotments, and several for what he described as strong action against illegal infiltration.
Expressing confidence ahead of the elections, the Chief Minister said he was encouraged by the turnout at the rallies and claimed the current wave of support felt different from previous elections. He also expressed satisfaction that people were acknowledging the work carried out by the BJP-led government over the last five years.
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The Assam Assembly elections are expected to be held in March-April this year. The polls will be the first since the delimitation exercise carried out in 2023.
In the 126-member Assembly, the BJP currently holds 64 seats. Its allies — the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has nine MLAs, the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) has seven, and the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) has three. In the opposition camp, the Congress has 26 legislators, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has 15, and the CPI(M) has one MLA, along with an Independent member.
