ThePrint NationalInterest: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's 'Swadesh,Swajati' pitch ahead of elections & Assam's 45-year saffronisation
Jan 3, 2026
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma pitches the upcoming Assam elections as a battle for national and community identity. He vows to push back illegal immigrants, reflecting a broader trend of combining Assamese identity with Hindutva. The discussion explores how the RSS has spent decades shaping Assam's political landscape, transforming the narrative into one focused on anti-Muslim sentiments. The evolution of local leadership through co-opting from other parties is also examined, revealing the intricate dynamics at play in Assam's saffronisation.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Election Framed As Nation Versus Community
- Himanta Biswa Sarma framed the election as a fight for 'Swadesh' (nation) and 'Swajati' (community), linking regional identity to national politics.
- Amit Shah reinforced this by accusing Congress of treating Bangladeshi infiltrators as vote banks and promising removal of infiltrators.
Identity Plus Hindutva Strategy
- The campaign will blend Assamese identity with Hindutva, exempting 'native' Muslims while targeting Bengali Muslim immigrants.
- Shekhar Gupta notes the explicit distinction between native Assamese Muslims and Bengali Muslims from Bangladesh.
45 Years Of Grassroots Political Change
- Shekhar Gupta recounts 45 years of RSS grassroots work that transformed Assam's politics from non-existent RSS presence to BJP dominance.
- He traces the shift from anti-outsider to anti-immigrant and finally to anti-Muslim infiltrator rhetoric.