Assam election results 2026: Is the ‘migrant’ narrative still the BJP’s biggest weapon?

New Delhi: Whether the BJP-led NDA can secure a third consecutive term in Assam will be known when votes are counted in the April 9 Assembly polls on Monday.Ahead of the polls, the “infiltrator” narrative became one of the core electoral platforms of the BJP, which campaigned aggressively on promises to curb illegal immigration, an issue that has been linked to identity, land and security issues in the northeastern state.The charge was led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa SarmaThe former Congress leader, whose government repeatedly “repelled” illegal immigration from Bangladesh as part of a strategy to intensify law enforcement. The government also conducted deportation operations in areas such as Darang and Nagaon, targeting encroachments related to undocumented immigrants.Sarma’s reference to “mias” sparked widespread condemnation, with critics saying the term, traditionally used to refer to Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, is often used pejoratively to allude to people of Bangladeshi descent, raising concerns about polarization of the community.An AI-generated video posted by the Assam Bharatiya Janata Party on X also sparked controversy. The video allegedly shows Salma aiming a rifle at two people – one wearing a toque and the other with a beard – with the caption “shot at close range”. The post was removed due to backlash.The BJP, however, remained unfazed by the criticism and continued to reinforce its campaign message on “illegal immigration”, with senior leaders including Union Home Minister Amit Shah claiming that “every infiltrator” in Assam would be deported within five years if the party remained in power.Supporters of the BJP argue that such measures are necessary to address concerns about “demographic changes” in Assam. However, critics have raised questions about due process, the reliability of the identification mechanism, and the broader humanitarian and social impact of the rhetoric and proposed policy actions.Exit polls showed a landslide victory for the NDA. However, such predictions do not always match actual results.