Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Assam on February 14 to inaugurate several major development initiatives and take part in a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally in Guwahati, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Sunday.
This will be the Prime Minister’s third visit to the election-bound state in less than three months, reflecting the BJP’s heightened political activity ahead of the Assembly polls. During the visit, Modi will inaugurate the Kumar Bhaskar Varman Bridge across the Brahmaputra, a landmark project connecting Guwahati with North Guwahati.
The Prime Minister will also open the temporary campus of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Guwahati. In addition, he will hand over 100 electric buses, provided with central government support, to the Assam government to strengthen public transportation and encourage environmentally friendly mobility.
A major political rally is scheduled at Khanapara in Guwahati, where the Prime Minister will address booth-level workers and party leaders from across the state. Chief Minister Sarma said that depending on time availability, Modi may also visit Dibrugarh in Upper Assam.
The announcements were made after the launch of the BJP’s video vans, part of a statewide pre-poll outreach campaign. The vans will travel across Assam to engage with different sections of society and highlight the party’s development agenda.
Addressing concerns over toll charges on the new Guwahati–North Guwahati bridge, the Chief Minister dismissed claims that all vehicles would be charged. He clarified that toll fees would apply only to trucks and buses and accused some quarters of spreading misinformation to create public anxiety.
Dr Sarma also spoke about seat-sharing within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the upcoming 126-member Assam Assembly elections. He said discussions with alliance partner Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) were in the final stages and that the formula would be announced soon. There has been speculation that the AGP may be allotted fewer seats compared to the 2021 elections.
Continuing his attack on the Congress, the Chief Minister accused the party of relying on misinformation and attempting communal consolidation. Referring to a recent Congress programme in Rangia, he alleged that it resembled a religious event rather than a political meeting.
On eviction drives in Guwahati’s hill areas, Dr Sarma assured that indigenous Assamese people would not be affected. He said action would be taken only against illegal settlers and claimed that false narratives were being deliberately circulated.
The Chief Minister further indicated that details about alleged links between Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and Pakistan-related power projects would be revealed soon. Commenting on the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), he cautioned students and parents, alleging that the institution and its chancellor were facing multiple cases related to fake certificates and cheating.
