10 days; third term: BJP banks on Jan Ashirwad Yatra for Assam election battle
Amidst scenes of midnight fervour and swelling crowds, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has formally launched the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’, a high-octane campaign designed to secure a third consecutive term for the ruling party,. Flagged off from the historic Gupteshwar Temple in Dhekiajuli, the outreach programme aims to touch the lives of at least one lakh citizens every day,. The air was thick with the scent of traditional flowers and the sound of cheers as the Chief Minister wove through the streets. "I thank the people of Assam very much," Sarma remarked on the second day of the march. "Last night it went on till 12:30, and there were people everywhere. The public gave their full blessings".
A Spiritual Start and Grassroots Scale
The march commenced on Saturday following prayers at the Gupteswari temple, with Sarma leading a massive procession atop an open van alongside State President Dilip Saikia and Union Minister Pabitra Margherita,. This initial eight-day phase is scheduled to continue until March 9, covering 34 Assembly constituencies,. To further amplify the campaign’s resonance, the Chief Minister also released three "Election Songs" at the party’s state headquarters, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Bhawan, in Guwahati,. The logistics of the yatra are formidable, with the convoy travelling approximately 70-80 km daily through key areas such as Borsola, Tezpur, Naduar, and Rongapara,. According to State President Dilip Saikia, the objective is to take the party's vision and organisational goals directly to the people.
Governance Milestones and the Anti-Infiltration Pledge
The campaign serves as a critical platform to highlight a decade of BJP leadership in the state and at the Centre,. Leaders are focusing on the last five years under Sarma’s leadership, specifically citing landmark initiatives regarding land rights and employment,. Addressing the public, Sarma stated: "We want to send a strong message that we will evict all illegal encroachers... People are acknowledging what we did in the past five years, and I hope people will give us a strong mandate this time". He noted that citizens often approach him to express gratitude for jobs or for taking "strict action against illegal infiltrators". While acknowledging that certain things may not have gone exactly as the public wished, he asserted that any mistakes were not due to a "laxity of efforts". "My appeal to all is to help BJP retain power so that we can continue to take the state forward in this journey," the Chief Minister added.
Strategic Roadmap and Feedback Mechanism
The BJP is leaving nothing to chance, appointing State Cabinet Minister Ashok Singhal as the chief convenor for the programme,. For regions not on the primary route, the party has organised 'Jan Ashirwad Sabhas' to ensure no constituency is left untouched. Union Minister Pabitra Margherita expressed immense confidence in the party's prospects, stating, "We are confident that the people of Assam will bless us for the third consecutive term". Beyond mere optics, MP Pradan Baruah explained that the yatra functions as a vital platform for direct engagement and feedback collection. This data will allow the party to "fine-tune its future strategies" as it prepares for the 2026 electoral contest. The yatra features a rotating cast of senior national and state leaders, all tasked with strengthening the grassroots connect and conveying a vision for a "developed and secure Assam".