#Assamelection: will the equation change with the strict stand of Congress against CAA?

In January, BJP launched an election campaign in Sivasagar. In Sivasagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over land papers to the landless families. At the same time, on 14 February, the Congress also started the campaign by keeping in mind its electoral agenda.

At Sivasagar election rally, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the Citizenship Amendment Act will not be implemented in Assam.

There is resentment about CAA in Assam and it is one of the main electoral issues in the state.

Congress’ gamosa card

During the rally at Sivasagar in Assam, all the leaders including Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, top leaders of Assam Congress Ripun Bora, Gaurav Gogoi, Pradyot Bordoloi, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Debabrata Saikia, Sushmita Deb, Rockibul Hussain and Assam Incharge Jitendra Singh Gomosa was worn, indicating the CAA was not enforced.

Actually, gomosa in Assam is a white colored import cloth. Which has a traditional red border. Gamosa is a symbol of Assam’s cultural identity.

By using GAMOSA, the Congress has made it clear that it is against the citizenship amendment law in the state and will keep the issue at the top in this election.

In this rally, Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leader Debabrata Saikia accused BJP of selling Assam to outside industrialists. Which mainly consists of Gujarati businessmen.

In response to the Congress allegations, the BJP accused the Congress of insulting Gamosa. However, it cannot be denied that in the Assam Assembly elections, the Congress included the Citizenship Amendment Act as an important issue in its campaign and this issue is going to be important in the elections.

Congress’s stand on CAA

Changing the party’s electoral strategy in Assam, the Congress has made it clear that it is not in favor of implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act in the state. Earlier, the Congress had also opposed the CAA in Parliament. Although initially the Congress was hesitant to raise the issue of Citizenship Amendment Act in the elections, as the party believed that this could alienate Bengali Hindu voters in the Barak Valley.

It is very important to know that since the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Act in 2019 in the Parliament, there has been a lot of opposition in the Brahmaputra Valley. Because the people of Assam feared that this would lead to a big change in the state’s demographics. On the other hand, Bengali speaking Hindus having great influence in the region were happy with the arrival of CAA.

The Citizenship Amendment Act can be beneficial for Bengali-speaking Hindus who are outside the National Citizen’s Register.

In Assam, the Congress has made the Citizenship Amendment Act an election issue under fixed risk.