Page 5 - Assam

BJP promises ₹5 trillion infra push in Assam, free LPG cylinders in Kerala

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday released the BJP's manifesto for the Assam assembly polls, promising protection of land, heritage and dignity of indigenous people and Rs 5 lakh crore infrastructure investment. BJP's 'Sankalp Patra' comprises 31 promises, including the recovery of encroached land from "Bangladeshi Miyas", implementing the Uniform Civil Code, and creating employment opportunities for youths. The manifesto pledged to protect the land, heritage and dignity of the indigenous people of Assam by implementing the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950, to expedite the process of detection and pushback of illegal immigrants. The BJP also promised that it would strengthen the legislative protections to preserve the civilisation, heritage and rights of the people of Assam by implementing the UCC, excluding the Sixth Schedule and Tribal areas, to ensure the rights of ethnic communities. It pledged to "free every inch of land from encroachment by illeg

Health, land & women schemes: What BJP, Congress promise in Assam polls

The BJP and Congress have released their respective manifestos for the Assam Assembly polls, promising cash support for women, expanded health cover and welfare for senior citizens

'Secure, developed Assam': BJP releases manifesto for 2026 Assembly polls

BJP's 'Sankalp Patra' comprises 31 promises, including the recovery of encroached land from Bangladeshi Miyas, bringing in Uniform Civil Code, and ensuring the development of the state

Assam saw long span of instability, but things changed in past decade: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said Assam saw a long span of instability, but things changed in the past decade as the BJP's double-engine government made every effort to ensure peace in the state. Twelve peace agreements were signed by the government with different organisations in the northeast, Modi said while addressing the BJP's booth level workers in poll-bound Assam as part of the 'Mera Booth, Sabse Mazboot Samvaad'. The initiative aimed at giving messages directly to party activists ahead of polls. The prime minister said BJP workers must remind people how the Congress "used to make agreements only on paper to create headlines and mislead people". "We have seen the era when Assam was burning in violence. Assam saw a long span of instability, but things have changed in the past decade. But today, we can see a new confidence as the BJP's double-engine government has made every effort for peace," he said. Under the Congress, peace agreements were pushed aside and the

Kharge announces Congress' 'five guarantees' for poll-bound Assam

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday announced his party's "five guarantees" for poll-bound Assam, with a focus on women's welfare, healthcare for all, land rights and justice in the Zubeen Garg death case. He also took a swipe at the BJP-led government in the state, accusing it of indulging in rampant corruption and working "to fill the coffers" of its leaders and their families. Addressing a rally at Naoboicha in Lakhimpur district, Kharge listed the party's 'five guarantees', which include a monthly cash transfer to women, along with an additional Rs 50,000 assistance to women willing to set up or expand a business. "Our transfer will be unconditional. It will not be like what the BJP government is doing, where women are asked to be members of their party," he said. The Congress, which is looking to wrest power from the BJP, pledged Rs 25 lakh cashless health insurance for all families, permanent land pattas for 10 lakh indigenous people and Rs 1,250 per month for sen

Planters' body ask Assam govt to address concerns for providing land patta

Planters' body, Tea Association of India (TAI), has urged the Assam government to address its concerns regarding the transfer of housing line land to workers under a new amended law. While appreciating the government's intent to provide land patta to the tea garden workers, it called for clear guidelines in the matter so that the "administrative" concerns are taken care of. Speaking at the 37th Biennial General Meeting of TAI, Assam Branch, here on Saturday, TAI president Shailja Mehta said the concerns of the industry should be considered before implementation of the new law. She pointed out that in many cases, tea garden land is mortgaged as collateral with banks, and transfer may create financial and legal complications. Further, the Land Ceiling Act applies only to land and not to company-built assets such as labour quarters. "Adequate compensation should therefore be ensured under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlem

PM Modi grants land ownership rights to over 28,000 Assam tea workers

After 200 years, workers have been granted land ownership rights to build their homes; the government plans to extend these land rights to a total of 400,000 to 500,000 tea workers

Larsen & Toubro shares jump 4% on securing significant Assam water project

L&T has secured a significant order for its water and effluent treatment (WET) business from the Guwahati Metropolitan Drinking Water & Sewage Board for a water management project in Assam

Assam govt declares public holiday on April 9 for assembly elections

The Assam government declared a public holiday on April 9 as assembly polls are scheduled on that day, according to notifications. The public holiday has been declared under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, according to a notification issued by the General Administration Department's Commissioner and Secretary, MS Manivann. All government and non-government offices, urban local bodies, educational institutions, business and commercial establishments, including banks, will remain closed on that day, according to the notification. Another notification issued by the Labour Welfare Department said April 9 will be a paid holiday in all factories, tea plantations, shops and public entertainment or amusement establishments. Polling for the 126-member assembly will be held on that day, with the counting of votes scheduled on May 4.

Assam Assembly polls: Congress announces final list of 7 candidates

The Congress on Sunday announced its fifth and final list of seven candidates for the Assam Assembly elections. With this, the party has declared candidates for 101 of the 126 seats in the state Assembly. "The Central Election Committee (CEC) of Congress has selected the Congress candidates for the ensuing elections to the Assam Legislative Assembly," an official statement from AICC general secretary, Organisation, K C Venugopal said. Among the candidates declared in the final list are Joseph Hasda from the Gossaigaon seat, Birkhang Boro from Dotma-ST, Rajat Kanti Saha from the Bijni and Anchula Gwara Daimary from the Bhergaon seat. The party also declared Narayan Adhikari as its candidate from the Mazbat, Nirmal Langthasa from Haflong-ST and Amar Chand Jain from the Katigorah assembly constituency. The Congress on Friday released its fourth list of seven candidates, dropping a sitting MLA while leaving 11 seats for its alliance partner, Raijor Dal. The party, which is contesting

Assam Assembly elections: BJP expands list, announces 2 more candidates

The BJP on Saturday announced the names of two more candidates for the April 9 Assembly elections in Assam, fielding Krishna Saha from Dalgaon and Jiban Gogoi from Sissibargaon, party sources said. On Thursday, the BJP released its first list of 88 candidates for Assam, fielding Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma from Jalukbari, and sitting BJP MP Hitendra Nath Goswami against state Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi from Jorhat. The Cabinet ministers who have been renominated from their seats include Ajanta Neog from Golaghat, Ranoj Pegu from Dhemaji (ST), Rupesh Gowala from Doomdooma, Binal Borah from Tingkhon, Pijush Hazarika from Jagiroad (SC), Jayanta Malla Baruah from Nalbari, Ashok Singhal from Dhekiajuli, Krishendu Paul from Patharkandi and Kaushik Rai from Lakhipur. Congress leaders Pradyut Bordoloi and Bhupen Borah, who recently joined the BJP, will contest from Dispur and Bihpuria, respectively. Among the other recent entrants from the Congress, Sashi Kanta Das has been fielded

TMC releases list of 17 candidates ahead of Assam Assembly elections

The Assam assembly polls will be held on April 9, and votes will be counted on May 4

Himanta Biswa Sarma files nomination from Jalukbari assembly in Assam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma led a procession here before filing his nomination papers for the Jalukbari assembly constituency on Friday. The procession began from the Veterinary Field in Khanapara area heading to the Kamrup (Metropolitan) District Election office, around 5.6 kms away, with Himanta atop a vehicle, flanked by his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, son Nandil Biswa Sarma and the BJP's Gauhati Lok Sabha MP Bijuli Kalita Medhi. Prior to setting out to file the papers, the chief minister sought the blessings of his mother Mrinalini Devi. ''Auspicious occasions should always begin with mother's blessings. Though I don't get to spend much time with her these days, her blessings always power me to continue serving Aai Asomi (mother Assam),'' Sarma said in a post on X. Despite heavy overnight and early morning rains, a huge crowd of people, mostly from his constituency, had gathered at the field since early morning. In another post earlier in the day, he said, ''Invitin

Fast-track sessions court appointed for day-to-day trial in Zubeen case

The Gauhati High Court on Thursday appointed an exclusive fast-track sessions court for conducting day-to-day trial proceedings in the Zubeen Garg death case, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Baksa district judge Sharmila Bhuyan will head the fast-track court. "Today marks a significant milestone in our collective pursuit of justice in the Zubeen Garg murder case," Sarma said in a post on X. "The Hon'ble Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court has been pleased to nominate Smt. Sharmila Bhuyan, presently serving as District Judge, Baksa, to preside over an exclusive fast-track sessions court for conducting day-to-day trial proceedings in this matter," he added. The 52-year-old singer died while swimming in the sea on September 19 last year in Singapore, where he had gone to attend the fourth North East India Festival. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Assam Police's CID had probed the death and filed its charge sheet before a local court here, naming seven ...

Assam elections: BJP releases names of 88 candidates in first list

The BJP on Thursday released its first list of 88 candidates for the Assam assembly polls, including Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma from Jalukbari seat. The party named former Congress leader Pradyut Bordoloi as its candidate from Dispur assembly seat. Bordoloi joined the BJP in the presence of Sarma and other party leaders here on Wednesday. According to the list, Bhupen Kumar Borah, who also joined the BJP recently after leaving the Congress, will contest from Bihpura seat. Madhavi Das will enter the fray from Birsing-Jarua, Jyotsana Kalita from Chamaria and Nilima Devi from Mangaldai. The first list of candidates was finalised by the BJP's Central Election Committee at its meeting presided over by party president Nitin Nabin here on Wednesday evening. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other members of the BJP poll body. BJP Assam unit chief Dilip Saikia was also present at the meeting.

Prateek Bordoloi won't contest on Cong ticket after father joins BJP

After Assam MP Pradyut Bordoloi joined the BJP, his son Prateek announced that he won't contest on a Congress ticket from Margherita in the upcoming assembly polls. In a letter to Congress president and chairman of the Central Election Committee Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday, Prateek said he would continue to remain a party member. Following his father's decision to join another party, it would not be appropriate for him to continue as a Congress candidate from Margherita, Prateek said in the letter, which was shared with reporters on Thursday. "With utmost respect and a deep sense of responsibility towards the party, I wish to convey my decision to withdraw my candidacy from the Margherita Assembly Constituency," he said. Prateek asserted that he will continue to work for the party in whatever capacity the leadership deems appropriate. His father, a Congressman for over five decades, had resigned from the grand old party on Tuesday and joined the BJP the next day.

Who is Pradyut Bordoloi, Assam MP who joined BJP after quitting Congress?

Assam MP Pradyut Bordoloi joined the Bharatiya Janata Party after resigning from the Indian National Congress ahead of the state polls. Here is a look at his political journey and career

Himanta Sarma announces NDA seat sharing arrangement for Assam polls

Assam has 126 assembly seats, and the BJP is expected to contest 89 seats

Assam Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi quits party before Assembly polls

In a jolt to the opposition Congress, Assam's Lok Sabha MP Pradyut Bordoloi on Tuesday resigned from the party, barely 20 days ahead of assembly elections in the state. Bordoloi has sent his resignation letter to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, state media department chairman Bedabrata Bora told PTI. A former state cabinet minister and two-time MP from Nagaon constituency, Bordoloi's son is a Congress candidate from Margherita seat for the state polls due on April 9. In the one-line resignation letter addressed to Kharge, the MP said, "With an overwhelming sense of sadness today, I hereby tender my resignation from all posts, privileges and the primary membership of the Indian National Congress." A copy of the letter is available with PTI. Bora said state party chief Gaurav Gogoi and AICC general secretary in-charge of Assam Jitendra Singh are meeting with Bordoloi over the issue at the national capital.

Confident that BJP will again form govt in Assam, says Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said he is confident that the BJP will return to power in Assam under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma with the "largest ever mandate". Addressing the youth convention of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) here, Shah urged the people to give another mandate to the BJP and assured them that "every infiltrator will be sent out of India". His comment comes on a day when the Election Commission (EC) announced that the Assam assembly elections would be held on April 9 and the counting on May 4. "I am confident that the BJP will again form a government in Assam with the largest ever mandate and power of the youths," he said. In the current 126-member assembly, the ruling BJP's strength is 64, while its allies AGP has nine MLAs, UPPL has seven, and the BPF has three members. ''The Congress gave shelter to infiltrators, but the BJP government is determined to identify each one of them and drive them out of the country," Shah