Congress MP from Jorhat, Gaurav Gogoi, on Thursday condemned Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s statement blaming a “particular religion” for BJP’s electoral setbacks in three northeastern states of Nagaland, Manipur, and Meghalaya. Gogoi appealed to the chief ministers of these three states to publicly condemn Sarma’s remarks saying the Assam CM does not have the “maturity to accept the responsibility for the losses.”
Himanta on Tuesday said, “In Meghalaya, Nagaland and Manipur a particular religion went against NDA. That has made the difference as that religion has tremendous followers in those states. It is not a political defeat. Nobody can fight against a religion.”
He added, “This religion usually does not interfere in politics but this time they got involved and even in Assam. They have openly worked against the NDA this time”.
Meghalaya and Nagaland are Christianity dominated while there are substantial Christians in Manipur. BJP suffered a reverse in Northeast India with the party losing two seats in Manipur.
Its allies lost in Meghalaya and Nagaland. In Manipur which is besieged by the over one year long ethnic strife BJP and its ally Naga People’s Front (NPF) suffered crushing defeat. In the tribal dominated Outer Manipur seat NPF candidate K Timothy Zimik was trounced by Alfred Kanngam S. Arthur of Congress.
In Meitei’s dominated valley seat Inner Manipur seat, JNU professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam handed defeat to BJP. BJP candidate Thounaojam Basantakumar Singh is minister in the state government.
In Meghalaya, the newly formed Voice of the People’s Party (VPP) defeated Congress MP Cincent Pala from the Shillong seat. VPP is not aligned to any formation of INDIA or NDA. In Tura seat Saleng A Sangma of Congress defeated former Union minister Agatha K. Sangma of National People’s Party (NPP). She is sister of chief minister Conrad Sangma.
In Nagaland, Congress has made a grand come back and wrested the lone seat. S Supongmeren Jamir of Congress defeated Dr Chumben Murry, the common candidate of the ruling alliance in Nagaland.
Gogoi posted on X, “I condemn the irresponsible and reckless statement of the Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma. He does not have the maturity to accept the responsibility for the losses of the NDA in Nagaland, Meghalaya and Manipur.”
“I appeal to the Chief Ministers of the respective states to publicly condemn the statement. Together we must preserve the unique identity of the Northeast.”
When asked about the setbacks, Sarma, without naming the religion, said, “A particular religion openly went against our government in those states, and that religion has tremendous followers in those states. So that has made a difference. It is not a political defeat, because nobody can fight with a religion.”
Drawing a parallel to a hypothetical scenario involving Hindu religious leaders, he added, “If tomorrow, all the Shankaracharyas sit, and say that Himanta must lose, how can I fight with all the four Shankaracharyas?”
“Usually they do not interfere in politics. But this time, for whatever reason, they interfered in politics, including Assam where we couldn’t get votes of that particular religion,” Sarma added. (With inputs from The Economic Times and Hindustan Times)
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