The Early Life of Himanta Biswa Sarma
Recently, after the 2024 Lok Sabha Debacle, the BJP suddenly regained its gloating rights in the Indian political scene. Out of nowhere, the party has pulled off one of the greatest political upsets in Indian State Elections history. However, since early 2014-2015, the party has made many positive gains in the Northeastern Sector of the nation. Their presence in the Northeast was minimal just a decade ago, but now, the BJP storm has captured all the 8 States in the region. None other than the Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma played a huge hand in this success.
Himanta Biswa Sarma was born on February 1, 1969, in Jorhat, Assam. He completed his early education in the region before attending Cotton College in Guwahati and earning a law degree from Gauhati University. Sarma’s political career began with the Indian National Congress (INC), where he served for over two decades. His experience in Congress exposed him to state-level governance, allowing him to work closely with the political machinery in Assam. However, growing tensions and dissatisfaction with the INC leadership, particularly his reported dissatisfaction with Rahul Gandhi, led him to switch to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2015, marking the beginning of his ascent as a prominent leader in the Northeast.
Sarma’s decision to leave Congress significantly impacted the political landscape in Assam. He brought with him a group of Congress MLAs, and his move was viewed as a tactical coup that greatly benefited the BJP’s efforts in the region.
Which Recent Bills Presented in the Assam Vidhan Sabha Started the Controversy?
If you thought Yogi was “Hindutva-vaadi”, you haven’t seen Himanta Sarma’s work style. Himanta Biswa Sarma’s political style has frequently sparked controversy, particularly due to his unapologetic embrace of Hindutva ideologies. A notable recent event was the introduction of the Assam Repealing Bill and the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Bill (2024). These bills aimed to repeal the Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act of 1935, a move widely seen as part of Sarma’s broader agenda to align Assam’s laws with his vision of regional uniform civil codes. The legislation received strong opposition from Congress and Muslim organizations, who argued that it disproportionately targeted Muslim communities and could result in an increase in unregistered marriages.
Additionally, Sarma’s government has faced significant backlash for eviction drives that allegedly targeted Muslim communities and for renaming state-run madrasas to regular schools, which his administration justified as part of an effort to curb Islamic radicalization.
Response from the Usual Opposition: Congress, AIMIM Party, Certain Media Houses
Sarma’s legislative moves and fiery rhetoric have triggered sharp reactions from opposition parties, particularly the Congress and All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). The Congress, which Sarma once belonged to, has been one of his fiercest critics. Party leaders, such as Bhupen Borah, have accused him of attempting to incite communal unrest and provoke riots through divisive policies. Similarly, AIMIM, led by Asaduddin Owaisi, has condemned Sarma’s actions as discriminatory against Assam’s Muslim population.
Sarma’s anti-immigration stance has also drawn criticism from various media houses and civil society groups that argue his policies disproportionately affect ethnic minorities and Bengali-origin Muslims, often referred to as “Miya Muslims.” These communities have been the primary targets of Sarma’s rhetoric on demographic changes in Assam(
Why Are People Comparing Yogi and Himanta?
Himanta Biswa Sarma’s rising prominence in the BJP, especially due to his unapologetic Hindutva posturing, has led to frequent comparisons with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Both leaders are seen as champions of Hindutva in their respective regions, promoting policies and rhetoric that emphasize Hindu nationalism. Sarma, much like Yogi, has adopted a no-holds-barred approach to curbing what they perceive as threats from minority communities, particularly Muslims.
The most obvious parallel between the two leaders is their stance on Islamic institutions. Sarma, for instance, shut down several state-run madrasas, just as Yogi’s government has pursued policies seen as countering the influence of Islamic culture in Uttar Pradesh. This has led many to consider Sarma the “Northeast’s Yogi,” further bolstering his image as a Hindutva icon within the BJP.
What Are Himanta Biswa Sarma’s Future Plans for His State?
Sarma has made his long-term political intentions clear: transforming Assam into a Hindu-majority state, economically strong and politically aligned with the national BJP agenda. One of his key priorities is the identification and deportation of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, which he argues has led to an imbalance in Assam’s demographic composition. He has pledged to intensify border surveillance and community policing to curb what he describes as the “influx of illegal foreigners.”
Economically, Sarma’s government is focusing on modernizing Assam’s infrastructure and boosting industrial development. His administration has initiated projects to improve connectivity and is leveraging Assam’s strategic location as a gateway to Southeast Asia.
Why Are Muslim Organizations Against the Assam CM?
Sarma’s policies, particularly his anti-Muslim rhetoric and legislative moves, have made him a divisive figure among Assam’s Muslim population. His remarks about the “Miya” community, coupled with actions like the eviction drives and madrasa renaming, have been interpreted as attacks on Assam’s Muslim heritage. Muslim organizations fear that Sarma’s policies will further marginalize their communities and deepen religious polarization in the state.
The repeal of the Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act is viewed as an assault on Islamic personal law, and Sarma’s push for a regional uniform civil code has led many to believe that his administration is systematically targeting Muslim institutions. These fears are exacerbated by his government’s handling of the NRC (National Register of Citizens) and allegations of discrimination in issuing Aadhaar cards.
Our Opinion
Hindutva is the key factor that is making Himanta another “Beloved Bhagwa” leader in the Northeast. Himanta Biswa Sarma is undeniably one of the most influential political figures in Assam today, and his trajectory within the BJP signals a shift in the party’s approach to the Northeast. His actions, whether seen as necessary political reform or divisive identity politics, have made him a powerful player in shaping Assam’s future. Sarma’s alignment with Hindutva ideals and his hardline stance on immigration and Muslim institutions make him a likely candidate to rise even further within the BJP’s ranks, perhaps echoing the rise of Yogi Adityanath on a national scale.
While his policies resonate with his Hindu voter base, it remains crucial to recognize the broader implications of such polarizing governance. Assam’s diverse cultural and religious makeup requires inclusive leadership that balances development with harmony. Sarma’s brand of politics may bring short-term political gains, but its long-term impact on the state’s social fabric remains uncertain.
Witnessing the rise of infiltration of peaceful populations in Bengal and Assam areas, Himanta’s hard-line Hindutva politics is now becoming the central force tackling these people. His views, his ideas, and his speeches might feel a bit too harsh, but all he says is the truth.
This is the kind of leadership that will soon take center stage in Delhi and we are hoping to see a Yogi-Sarma duo in the Delhi Government soon after Modi-Shah says goodbye to active politics.
Hoping for some good days ahead.
This is New India
Signing off…
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