Concerned by the differences of opinions among party leaders in Assam BJP, the Central leadership of the saffron party has asked the State leadership to put up a united face at least in public in the run up to the next year’s Assembly polls in the State.
At least two Central level BJP leaders during their visit to Assam last week have repeatedly cautioned the State leaders not to show their differences in public and to put up a united face so as to woo the voters in the poll-bound State.
The BJP, which scored unexpectedly well in the last lok Sabha polls in Assam by securing 7 out of the total 14 lok Sabha seats has already announced its ‘Mission 84’ in Assam i.e. to secure at least 84 seats out of total 126 seats in the Assam legislative assembly. The party’s debacle in Bihar, however, dampened the spirit of the saffron party in Assam.
There were, however, differences among the ranks and files of the party, which have increased in recent times, particularly after the 10 sitting Congress legislators including former Assam Health and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma joined the BJP earlier this year.
There were also differences of opinion about the party leadership as many leaders have been opposing the present party president Siddhartha Bhattacharyya and lobbying for Union Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs Sarbananda Sonowal to head the party in the next year’s polls.
Senior party leader and lok Sabha MP from Guwahati Bijoya Chakraborty had on record admitted that there is a growing demand from among the party leaders to bring back Sonowal to the State ahead of the next year’s polls. There were also reports that Sonowal and newly-inducted BJP leader, Himanta Biswa Sarma also do not share good rapport with each other.
“The time in the run-up to the next year’s polls is very crucial for us. The party is gaining popularity in Assam and at this moment we cannot afford to make any wrong move that dampens the party’s advancements,” said a senior party official.
“All the party leaders have been asked to keep the personal grievances aside at least ahead of the next year’s polls. The situation in Assam politics is changing and it is high time all the leaders work together so that party can attract more electorate,” he said.