Guwahati | Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said the BJP was in a “winnable position” in the Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll, citing grassroots campaigning and what he described as a positive response from voters. Sarma made the remarks while addressing a campaign meeting at Raidongia on the second day of his campaign for the October 6 bypoll. He later addressed a public meeting at Gandhi Field in Morigaon.

“It’s a difficult constituency for the BJP and to assert that BJP will win is a difficult proposition. But going by the work our grassroots workers have been doing and the response of the people, it points towards a winnable position,” Sarma told reporters after the meeting.

The Chief Minister also claimed that the BJP was receiving support from minority voters, referring to the party’s performance in Lahorighat during the 2024 election.“In 2024, BJP won 47,000 votes in Lahorighat. It is not that we do not get votes, but this time, the votes will double or triple,” he said.

Sarma also made development a key part of his campaign pitch, referring to Batadrava’s religious and cultural significance and saying his role was to support the development plans of incumbent MLA Rupak Sarma. “Rupak Sarma has a lot of plans for Nagaon and my job is to support his aspirations. The Rs 1.5 lakh crore that we will utilise for the development of Assam will benefit the Nagaon constituency as well,” he said.

The Chief Minister also hit back at Congress leader and Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain, who had criticised Sarma a day earlier over his alleged remarks concerning “Miya” votes, mosques and madrassas.Referring to protests and demonstrations against Hussain during his recent visit to Samaguri, Sarma said the Congress leader should “introspect” before targeting him.

Sarma alleged that people had protested against Hussain and that stones were pelted at his convoy during the visit. He also referred to Hussain’s political family background, noting that his father had served as a minister from the constituency and his son, Tanzil Hussain, is the sitting MLA.

“What does it mean when Hussain had his father as a minister in the constituency and his son is currently the incumbent legislator, yet he gets such a response from the locals?” Sarma asked. Hussain had on Monday said his criticism was directed at Sarma over remarks he attributed to the Chief Minister about Muslims, mosques and madrassas.

“I am not targeting the Chief Minister. I am targeting the man who had said that ‘Islam ko khatam kar dunga’,” Hussain had said, adding that he would continue to protest against such statements. The Nagaon bypoll is witnessing a three-way contest between BJP candidate and former Nagaon district commissioner Devashish Sharma, Congress candidate Shibamoni Bora and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal.

 Polling will be held on October 6, with counting scheduled for October 9.