NDA is confident of winning 13 out of 14 seats in Assam, says Himanta Biswa Sarma

Image Source: ABP News

The NDA is in a position to win 13 Lok Sabha seats in Assam, claimed Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is also the convenor of the NEDA (North East Democratic Alliance). He expressed confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies, predicting victory in 13 out of 14 parliamentary seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Speaking at a press conference in Guwahati’s Lok Sewa Bhawan, Sarma emphasized the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) strengthened prospects following the announcement of Congress’s candidates for Assam. Initially projecting 11 seats for the NDA, Sarma revised his estimate upwards, asserting the likelihood of securing 13 seats this time, conceding only the Dhubri seat to the opposition.

In his assessment, Sarma highlighted the expected landslide victory of Sarbananda Sonowal in the Dibrugarh constituency, anticipating a substantial margin of over three lakh votes. The Assam CM took a dig at the Congress, criticizing its candidate selection process and implying the ruling BJP’s contentment with the opposition’s choices, insinuating a favorable outcome for the BJP in the state.

The distribution of seats sees the BJP contesting in 11 constituencies, with its allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) fielding candidates in Barpeta and Dhubri and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) in Kokrajhar.

Meanwhile, the Congress has unveiled its lineup for 12 parliamentary constituencies in Assam, featuring prominent figures such as Gaurav Gogoi in Jorhat, Pradyut Borodoloi in Nagaon, Mira Barthakur Goswami in Guwahati, Rakibul Hussain in Dhubri, and Jairam Engleng in Diphu.

Sarma’s optimistic projection reflects the BJP’s concerted efforts to consolidate its electoral base in Assam, leveraging alliances with regional parties to strengthen its position across diverse constituencies. The emphasis on Sonowal’s anticipated victory underscores the party’s confidence in its leadership and performance, aiming to capitalize on incumbency advantages and public support.

In contrast, Sarma’s critique of the Congress’s candidate selection strategy underscores the BJP’s narrative of a competent and strategically superior approach to electoral politics, positioning itself as the preferred choice for voters disillusioned with the opposition’s leadership and policies.

As the electoral battle intensifies in Assam, both the BJP-led NDA and the Congress-led opposition are gearing up for a closely contested race, with each side vying for supremacy in a state pivotal to national politics. The outcome of the Lok Sabha polls in Assam will not only shape the state’s political landscape but also have broader implications for the trajectory of Indian politics.

Also, the NPP (National People’s Party) has decided to support the NDA candidates in the 2 seats in Arunachal Pradesh. It was informed by the party president and Meghalaya CM, Conrad Sangma, on his X platform.  The NPP has opted out of the contest for the two Lok Sabha seats in Arunachal Pradesh due to its alliance with the NDA. The NPP National Committee has instructed its Arunachal committee to back the NDA candidates. The constituencies in question are Arunachal East, currently held by Tapir Gao, and Arunachal West, represented by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, both belonging to the BJP.

NDA finalises seat sharing in Bihar

                                                                   Image Source: The Economic Times

The NDA recently disclosed its seat-sharing agreement for Bihar, a pivotal state with 40 seats slated for polling from April 19 onward. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 17 seats, consistent with its 2019 tally, while its primary ally, the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), will contest in 16 seats, a reduction of one from the previous elections. Notably, this marks the first instance where the BJP will contest more seats than the JD (U).

Within the coalition, the Chirag Paswan faction of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) will vie for five seats, notably including Hajipur, currently represented by Chirag’s estranged uncle and Union Minister Pashupati Paras.

This decision signifies the alliance’s preference for Chirag Paswan over his brother Paras, who rebelled in 2021 to form his own party.

Additionally, Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) and Jitan Ram Majhi’s Hindustan Awam Morcha (Secular) each secured one seat. Under the agreement, the JD(U) will contest from a range of constituencies, including Valmikinagar, Sitamarhi, Jhanjharpur, and Purnia, among others.

In exchange for Sheohar, the BJP will field candidates in areas like Nawada, West Champaran, and Darbhanga, among others.

Furthermore, the LJP will maintain its stronghold in Hajipur, Vaishali, and other constituencies. Chirag Paswan is expected to contest from Hajipur, a seat previously eyed by his uncle, Pashupati Paras. This strategic allocation of seats underscores the complex political dynamics within Bihar ahead of the forthcoming elections.

PMK joins the NDA in Tamil Nadu 

                                                                                   Image Source: NewsClick

In a significant development on Tuesday, the BJP finalized a seat-sharing agreement with the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), led by Dr. S. Ramadoss, for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on April 19th in Tamil Nadu. Under the deal, the BJP has allocated 10 seats to the regional PMK party.

The agreement was formally sealed during a signing ceremony at Dr. Ramadoss’s residence in Thailapuram, attended by BJP state president K. Annamalai and PMK founder Dr. Ramadoss. Notably, PMK holds sway in several northern districts of Tamil Nadu, particularly among the Vanniyar community. Annamalai disclosed the details during a joint press briefing with PMK President and Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, confirming PMK’s participation in 10 constituencies within the NDA alliance in Tamil Nadu.