Assam assembly elections 2021: Battle lines drawn for state's first phase polls

GUWAHATI: The battle lines for the first phase of election to be held in 47 constituencies on March 27 have been drawn, which being the home to two tribal groups, six OBC communities, including the tea garden workers, and few migrant Muslims hold the key to a perfect start to BJP’s campaign for a second successive government in the state.
BJP has fielded its candidates in 38 of these seats, including chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal in river island constituency of Majuli while AGP will be contesting in the remaining nine seats.There are 283 candidates in fray.
Five years back, 45% of BJP’s 60 seats (27 seats) came from this region, which saw the party form its first government in the state in alliance with AGP and BPF. AGP had won eight of these 47 seats in 2016 while nine had gone to Congress and two to AIUDF and one seats was won by an Independent, who later extended support to BJP-led alliance.
This block of 47 seats are the high stake constituencies for BJP. From the second phase spread over the remaining 79 constituencies, the migrant Muslims voters come into play and in large numbers.
To reap the maximum in the first phase, BJP is taking extra care to pull its partner AGP along. PM Narendra Modi will be leading the NDA surge when he campaigns for AGP candidate at Chabua on February 20. BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “Congress will wiped out in the first phase this election.”
BJP’s confidence is based on its two poll planks for these constituencies—sops to tea garden workers and its projection as the protector of Assamese identity of culture, language and tradition.
In as many as 27 of these seats, the tea garden voters decide the electoral fortunes of political parties. These constituencies were the bastions of Congress until 2016 when the voters switched loyalties to BJP. But, despite the wave for change, BJP could not make a complete sweep here as six seats went to Congress.
Modi’s three campaign meetings before the election dates were announced were at Sivasagar followed by Dhekiajuli and Dhemaji—all of which go to polls in the first phase. While in Sivasagar, the erstwhile capital of Ahom kingdom he distributed land pattas to indigenous landless, Dhekiajuli is in the belt and Dhemaji, the centre of Mishing tribal community with pockets of Bodo population.
Modi, Amit Shah and every other BJP leaders have so far refrained from mentioning the contentious Citizenship (amendment) Act with the obvious intention to keep the opposition at bay. But, to counter this issue, BJP has wisely turned towards issues that relates to livelihood and betterment of standard of living of the indigenous people.
District wise constituencies
Sonitpur: Dhekiajuli, Barchalla, Tezpur, Rangapara, Sootea, Biswanath, Behali, Gohpur
Lakhimpur: Bihpuria, Naoboicha, Lakhimpur, Dhakuakhana
Nagaon: Dhing, Batadroba, Rupohihat, Samaguri, Kaliabar
Golaghat: Bokakhat, Sarupathar, Golaghat, Khumtai,
Jorhat: Jorhat, Teok, Titabor, Mariani, Dergaon, Majuli
Sibsagar: Amguri, Thowra, Sibsagar, Nazira, Mahmara, Sonari
Dibrugarh: Moran, Dibrugarh, Lahowal, Duliajan, Tingkhong, Naharkatia, Chabua
Tinsukia: Tinsukia, Digboi, Margherita, Sadiya, Doomdooma
Dhemaji: Jonai, Dhemaji