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Muslims Voted for Himanta Biswa Sarma, Says AGP Leader After Polls

AGP leader Karimuddin Barbhuiyan asserted that many Muslims voted for Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in the Assam Assembly elections. He dismissed Opposition prospects, projecting them at only 35 seats maximum in the 126-member Assembly. Barbhuiyan attributed public support to welfare delivery, road connectivity, and infrastructure development under the current government. An exit poll by Today's Chanakya predicts the BJP-led alliance will win 102 seats with a 50% vote share.

Key Points: Muslims Voted for Himanta Sarma: AGP Leader

  • AGP leader claims Muslim votes for Himanta Sarma
  • Opposition projected to win only 23-35 seats
  • Welfare and infrastructure development cited as key factors
  • Exit poll predicts BJP-led alliance to secure 102 seats
2 min read

Muslims voted for Himanta Sarma: AGP leader​

AGP leader Karimuddin Barbhuiyan claims many Muslims voted for CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, dismissing Opposition chances in Assam Assembly elections.

"Many Muslims had voted in the name of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma - Karimuddin Barbhuiyan"

Guwahati, May 1

Karimuddin Barbhuiyan, an Asom Gana Parishad leader who contested the recently concluded Assam Assembly elections from Sonai constituency in Cachar district, on Friday, asserted that many Muslims had voted in the name of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and said the Opposition camp's dream of forming the next government would remain only a dream.​

Barbhuiyan, who switched to the Asom Gana Parishad from the All India United Democratic Front ahead of the polls, said the mood among voters had clearly favoured the ruling alliance and dismissed claims that anti-incumbency would damage the Bharatiya Janata Party-led combine in the state.​

He said Opposition parties might at best secure around 35 seats in the 126-member Assembly, adding that repeated attempts to project a change in government were disconnected from the ground reality witnessed during campaigning.​

According to him, welfare delivery, road connectivity, law and order, and visible infrastructure development had helped strengthen public confidence in the present dispensation across regions, including Barak Valley and Lower Assam.​

In a pointed political remark, Barbhuiyan said it was good if Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi won his seat, adding that every democracy needs at least one person willing to raise issues and challenge the government in the House.​

He, however, maintained that isolated criticism would not alter the larger mandate and insisted that voters were looking for continuity, stability, and faster development rather than experimentation with fragmented Opposition forces.​

Fresh seat and vote share projections on Thursday for the Assembly elections in Assam have indicated a strong advantage for the ruling alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, with the bloc projected to secure 102 seats, with a margin of error of plus or minus nine seats.​

According to the exit poll by Today's Chanakya, the Opposition alliance led by the Indian National Congress is projected to win 23 seats, with a range of plus or minus 9 seats, while others are expected to remain marginal at around 1 seat.​

If the trend holds, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led combine would comfortably retain power in the 126-member Assembly.​

In terms of vote share, the Bharatiya Janata Party alliance is projected to receive around 50 per cent, with a possible fluctuation of three percentage points. The Congress-led bloc is estimated to secure 38 per cent of the votes, while other parties and independents together may account for 12 per cent.​

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Ritu A
This is a reality check for the Congress-led alliance. Welfare schemes and roads don't lie—people in Assam are seeing tangible changes. The statement about Muslims voting for Himanta shows that development trumps identity politics for many. Let's see if the exit polls hold true.
S
Sarah B
Respectful criticism: While development is important, one must ask if the ruling alliance has addressed issues like inflation and unemployment adequately. Voting for continuity is fine, but a strong opposition is essential for democracy—kudos to Barbhuiyan for acknowledging Akhil Gogoi's role, even if he disagrees with him.
M
Manish T
Arrey, this Barbhuiyan fellow knows his stuff! He switched from AIUDF to AGP and now talks about Muslim votes going to Sarma—that's a big deal. Shows that even traditional vote banks are shifting. But I say let the results come first, exit polls can be misleading in Assam.
T
Tanya I
I'm from Barak Valley and can confirm that development work has been visible—better roads, schools, and law and order. But I wish the government would also focus more on job creation for youth. Let's not forget that development is meaningless if people can't find employment. Just my two paise.
J
James A
Interesting perspective from an AGP leader who previously represented a different party. The claim that Muslims voted for Himanta Sarma might be true in some pockets, but it's worth noting that vote share projections show a healthy 38% for Congress alliance. Democracy is alive and kicking in Assam.

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