Assam Assembly Polls

Congress to contest all five seats in bypolls, says Assam state chief Borah

Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah on Tuesday said the party will contest all the five Assembly seats where bypolls will be held. He also reiterated the party's opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, even as the state government asked its border police wing to advise non-Muslim illegal immigrants entering the state prior to 2015 to apply for citizenship under the new law. These decisions were part of discussions during a meeting chaired by AICC general secretary Jitendra Singh with district-level party leaders here on Monday, marking the first day of his three-day visit, Borah said. Singh plans to hold further meetings with MPs, MLAs, and other leaders to strengthen the party's organisational structure and strategise for the future. In a post on X, Borah said, "@INCAssam would contest all the 5 seats where byelections would be held. We would constitute 5 teams of senior leaders who would reach out to the grassroots. The Election Commission is yet to announce the ..

Assam flood situation critical, 2.45 million affected in 30 districts

Assam's flood situation remained critical on Saturday with over 24.50 lakh people reeling under the deluge in 30 districts and major rivers flowing above the danger mark at several places, an official bulletin said. The toll in this year's flood was 52 and 12 others lost their lives due to landslides and storms. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held a meeting with officials late on Friday after returning from the severely affected Dibrugarh district and reviewed the flood situation in the state. 'After visiting flood-affected areas of Dibrugarh, we reviewed several matters, including Assam Arogya Nidhi-a health financial assistance scheme," the chief minister said. Sarma also said he has specifically asked the officials to 'prioritise rarest of rare cases and applications from those who are not covered under any existing scheme'. The chief minister said after interacting with the flood-hit people, he had sent messages to officials to address their problems. "For us, proactive .

CAA insignificant in Assam, will have least applicants: CM Himanta

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday claimed that the CAA is completely insignificant in Assam, from where there will be the least number of applications for Indian citizenship. The Ministry of Home Affairs had on Tuesday launched a portal for people eligible to apply for Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019. CAA is completely insignificant in Assam; the state will have the least number of applications on the portal, Sarma told a press conference here. The Union government had on Monday implemented the CAA, notifying the rules to fast-track citizenship for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who came to India before December 31, 2014. Sarma said the act is very clear that the cut-off date for application of citizenship is December 31, 2014, and in Assam, with the updation of the National Register of Citizens, people who applied for it and did not find their names in that list, will only apply for CAA. The CM

Will resign if anyone who has not applied for NRC gets citizenship: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that he will be the first to resign if one person, who has not applied for National Register of Citizens (NRC), gets citizenship. His comment comes after protests erupted across Assam with opposition parties flaying the BJP government at the Centre for implementing the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) on Monday, paving the way for granting citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. 'I am a son of Assam and if a single person who has not applied for NRC gets citizenship, I will be the first to resign', the chief minister said on the sidelines of a programme at Sivasagar. The protesters are claiming that lakhs of people will enter the state after the implementation of the CAA. 'If this happens, I will be the first to protest," he said. There is nothing new about the CAA as it was enacted earlier, the chief minister said, adding that 'now the time has come for

Lok Sabha polls 2024: BJP to contest 11 seats in Assam, AGP 2, UPPL 1

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the BJP will contest 11 seats in the state for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, and the party's allies AGP and UPPL will field their candidates for the remaining three seats

Assam govt to file FIR against schools over irregularities in mid-day meals

The issue was raised by AIUDF MLA Rafiqul Islam when BJP legislator Dharmeswar Konwar asked a question regarding irregularities in the mid-day meal scheme

BJP will return to power in Assam in 2026 with over 100 seats: Himanta

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday claimed that the BJP-led alliance will win at least 100 out of the state's 126 seats in the 2026 assembly polls, and form the third consecutive NDA government in Assam. Replying to the Motion of Thanks on the Governor's address in the assembly, Sarma said nearly 2.3 lakh indigenous people will be given land rights under 'Mission Basundhara' by his government. "In 2026, we will not get less than 100 seats and form the government. My government's tenure of three years is not a big time, but several landmark decisions have been taken in these three years. It has been the golden period for Assam," he claimed. There was no movement or agitation during this period as people believed in development and progress, he said. During Congress tenure, the number of medical colleges went up from three to six, while it has reached 25 during BJP's rule, Sarma said. "Over 7,000 youth came out of the jungle and joined the mainstream. The number of bridg

Assam CM Sarma will be arrested not Rahul Gandhi, says Sanjay Raut

Further, slamming the ED's action, Sanjay Raut said that this is not the action of the ED but of BJP

Highlights: Prez confers 'bal puraskars', urges kids to play sports

From flight delays at IGI airport Delhi to the preparations for Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, catch all the latest updates from around the world here

Can any one be 'more corrupt' than Gandhi family: Assam CM Himanta

As the Congress continued to target Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma with corruption allegations during its 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in the state, the BJP leader hit back on Saturday, maintaining that no one can be "more corrupt" than the Gandhis. Sarma has been called the "most corrupt CM in the country" at several public gatherings over the last two days by Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the Yatra that is on its third day in the state. "Anything abusive, that comes from the so called Gandhi family, I consider it as a blessing. Because this gives me the energy to fight against a family which considers itself to be the most powerful," Sarma posted in X. He also said, "But I want to ask only one thing, can any one be more corrupt then the Gandhi's? - Bofors Scam, National Herald Scam, Bhopal Gas Tragedy, the escape of Anderson, 2G scam, Coal Scam, etc (the list is huge and it goes on & on )". Gandhi had claimed that Sarma can "give lessons" to chief ministers of other ...

ULFA, Centre, Assam govt to sign settlement accord in New Delhi on Friday

Assam Chief Minister's Office has announced that a tripartite memorandum of settlement between the ULFA (pro-talks faction) and the central and state governments will be signed in New Delhi on Friday. 'A Memorandum of Settlement will be signed between the Government of India, Government of Assam and representatives of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) in presence of the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Sh. Amit Shah tomorrow at 5 pm in New Delhi', the CMO posted on 'X' on Thursday. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is scheduled to be present during the signing, also retweeted the post. A16-member delegation of the ULFA pro-talks faction, led by chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, reached New Delhi on Wednesday to hold discussions with Shah before the signing of the accord. The outfit's general secretary, Anup Chetia, has been camping in New Delhi since Monday and held talks with the peace interlocutor AK Mishra on Tuesday. The Centre had sent a draft of the

Assam inks investment pacts of Rs 3,214 cr, Kaziranga to get 5-star resort

The Assam government on Saturday inked agreements with multiple companies who will cumulatively invest Rs 3,214 crore in the state. Attending the programme, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said his government is hoping to attract investment to the tune of Rs 1 lakh crore over the next two-three years. "Today, we have signed MoUs with six companies for a total investment of Rs 3,114 crore. This will cumulatively generate more than 5,000 job opportunities over the coming years," he added. Apart from these, another agreement will be signed by the Assam Tourism Development Corporation for setting up a five-star hotel near Kaziranga National Park. "Kaziranga will soon have a five-star resort to attract tourists from across the world. It will be set up by the Hyatt Group at an investment of Rs 100 crore, offering 100-120 rooms," Sarma said. "Assam is moving forward fast towards becoming an industrialised state. With today's programme, this year we have signed MoUs that will bring rec

People in Assam's Biswanath celebrate after getting district status

Earlier, on December 31 last year, the Assam cabinet had decided to merge four districts with their parent districts

No concept of old and new BJP, anybody can join with missed call: Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma dismissed the "old BJP versus new BJP debate and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president J P Nadda have made it amply clear that anyone can join the saffron party by giving a missed call to achieve 'Congress-mukt' India. He made the remarks on Tuesday amidst an apparent tussle between some of BJP's old guard in Assam and those who have joined the party in recent times. Sarma asserted that he himself, his predecessor Sarbananda Sonowal, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari, and former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai were the so-called new BJP" people. There is nothing called new or old BJP. Had the party thought in that way, do you think Sonowal or Himanta Biswa Sarma could have become the chief minister (of Assam)? he told reporters here in response to a question about the tussle within the Assam BJP unit. Sar

Education introduces individuals to their rights, duties: Assam Governor

Regardless of how intelligent a student may be, his education lacks true value if he does not possess a genuine concern for society and his country, observed Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria

BJP begins 2024 preparations in Assam; visits by Shah, Nadda in May

According to sources, the party however may face a stiff challenge in four constituencies -- Dhubri, Kaliabor, Barpeta, and Nagaon

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to decide on alliance with NPP: Meghalaya BJP leader

BJP Meghalaya leader Sanbor Shullai on Thursday said that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will take a call on an alliance with the state's ruling National People's Party (NPP)

Polling for bye-elections to 5 Assam Assembly constituencies begins

Polling for bye-elections to five Assam Assembly constituencies began at 7 am on Saturday

Congress stages state-wide protest in Assam over price rise

The Congress on Thursday staged a state-wide protest in Assam over the alleged failure of the BJP-led government to check the rise of prices of fuel and other essential commodities. Assam Pradesh Congress Committee leaders and workers, carrying banners and placards and shouting slogans, staged demonstrations across the state barring Tamulpur, Mariani, Thowra, Gossaigaon and Bhabanipur constituencies where by-elections will be held on October 30. The party members denounced the BJP for allegedly failing to keep its poll promise of checking the rise of prices of petrol, diesel, LPG cylinders and other essential commodities.

Berth secured: Wealthy candidates get to be ministers after state elections

A minister in Assam, Kerala and West Bengal is richer than a legislator of ruling alliance; Tamil Nadu bucks trend but has more minsters charged with crimes.