Sarma Cites Electoral Successes to Counter Opposition Narrative
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday dismissed allegations from the opposition that the Union government is afraid, asserting instead that the people of India continue to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sarma pointed to recent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) electoral successes in bypolls held in Assam and West Bengal as concrete evidence of this continued popular backing.
The Chief Minister’s comments came as he addressed claims that the ruling establishment was intimidated or fearful of political challenges. Sarma argued that these allegations were baseless and contradicted by the party's recent performance at the ballot box. He stated that the number of people supporting Prime Minister Modi is "many times greater" than those who mobilized in Delhi, referring to opposition protests or gatherings in the capital.
Sarma underscored the BJP’s position that electoral support and governance records, rather than allegations of political intimidation, should determine public assessments of the government. He suggested that the opposition’s focus on fear was a diversion from their inability to achieve their political objectives through democratic means.
Allegations of Political Intimidation Rejected
Sarma alleged that a section of the opposition has repeatedly attempted to attack the Union government but failed to achieve its objectives. He questioned the basis of claims that the government is afraid, arguing that elections should be judged by work done for the public rather than unsubstantiated allegations.
Addressing specific political maneuvers, Sarma referred to opposition efforts to seek access to constitutional authorities, including President Droupadi Murmu and the Supreme Court. He suggested that these interactions are not exceptional political developments but routine occurrences in a democratic framework. He noted that President Murmu meets several people regularly and that thousands approach the Supreme Court daily for various legal matters.
By framing these interactions as standard constitutional processes, Sarma sought to diminish the perceived significance of opposition attempts to engage with higher authorities as evidence of government vulnerability or fear.