There is a pro-incumbency in Assam, says BJP’s national vice-president and Assam in-charge Baijayant Jay Panda

BJP’s national vice-president and Assam in-charge Baijayant Jay Panda says Assam is witnessing pro-incumbency and that the chief of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Badruddin Ajmal, is trying polarise immigrants. Excerpts from an interview with Bikash Singh.

On prospects of BJP and its allies
The atmosphere is very positive. There is pro-incumbency in Assam. We saw it happen at the national level under PM Narendra Modi. During the previous 30- 35 years, there used to be the concept of anti-incumbency, Modiji overcame that era and moved on. We are beginning to see it at the state level. This is not only my opinion but has been corroborated by all surveys and by thousands of people with whom I interacted with.


Development plank or polarisation
The PM, during his tenure, has visited the northeast 45 times. This is more than all previous prime ministers combined as a result of which, there is massive development. Whatever (development) you saw in the past seven decades, you have seen in the past five years. For example, the number of bridges over river Brahmaputra, number of medical colleges, 20,000 km of roads — this is much more than (what was done) in the last 70 years.

On AIUDF and Ajmal, if you listen to his speeches, it is very clear that he represents a radical school of thought and is trying polarise immigrants. It is for this reason that the late Congress leader Tarun Gogoi kept him at bay. But the Congress today is aligning with radical parties everywhere, including with the ISF in Bengal and AIUDF.

On protests against CAA, non-implementation of Clause 6
CAA is not an issue in this election. Some opponents who tried to mislead the public now stand exposed. For example, they have predicted an influx of 1.5 crore people from across the border, whereas because of border fencing, technology and political will, infiltration has drastically come down. Many leaders who were part of those protest have joined BJP.

On BJP and allies getting 100-plus seats
Some opinion polls give us a clear majority and the others two-third majority. Our campaign theme of ‘Suraksha, Samridhi and Sanskrit’ (security, progress and culture) is backed up by five years of performance and the public has responded positively.