Corruption to Citizenship, Sarma’s Eviction Drive Recasts Poll Battle in Assam
Why in News?
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has recently intensified a series of eviction drives targeting what the BJP government claims are “illegal encroachments” by Bengali-speaking Muslims on government land. These drives, along with his remarks linking the Congress and its leaders to corruption and communal politics, have once again thrust the complex and emotionally charged issues of land, identity, and citizenship into the heart of Assam’s political discourse. With Assembly elections approaching, these developments signal a strategic recalibration by the BJP in its campaign narrative, now shifting from corruption allegations to communal and citizenship concerns.
Introduction
In May this year, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi was appointed as the head of the Assam unit of the Congress Party. Gogoi is the son of the late three-time Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and is being positioned as a key figure ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections in the state. As the Congress tries to rebuild its base in Assam, the BJP, under the leadership of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, has chosen to weaponize the highly sensitive issue of citizenship by initiating massive eviction drives.
These evictions primarily target Bengali-speaking Muslims residing in forest, wetland, and government land across districts like Barpeta, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, and Goalpara. The drives are being framed as a crackdown on illegal encroachments, but the opposition accuses the BJP of communal polarization and using state power to displace and marginalize minority communities.
Key Issues
1. Eviction Drives and Demographic Targeting
Between late July and early August 2025, the Assam government launched large-scale eviction operations in multiple districts. Most evictions targeted Bengali-speaking Muslims, described by the administration as “illegal encroachers.” In Barpeta district alone, over 1,700 families were displaced. In Goalpara, the operation lasted 45 days, covering forest and wetland areas across multiple districts like Dhupri, Nalbari, and others.
CM Sarma has justified the evictions by declaring that those who “entered India without the right documents” must leave. He stated, “The eviction will be done against this suspected foreigner community.” The BJP has routinely referred to Bengali-speaking Muslims as “illegal migrants” from Bangladesh—a community frequently demonized in Assam’s socio-political landscape.
2. Citizenship, NRC, and the Foreigner Debate
Sarma’s rhetoric taps into long-standing Assamese anxieties over illegal migration. The state has had a history of violent agitations over this issue, including the infamous Assam Agitation (1979–1985). The introduction of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), a measure backed by the Supreme Court and completed in 2019, aimed to identify illegal immigrants. However, the final NRC list excluded over 19 lakh applicants, many of them Hindus, stirring discontent within BJP ranks.
The evictions reignite this discourse. While the BJP claims they are targeting illegal Bangladeshi settlers, the Congress and civil rights organizations argue that Indian citizens are also being affected, and no proper rehabilitation measures are in place.
3. Political Strategy Behind the Evictions
The BJP’s change in campaign narrative from corruption to citizenship is evident. Earlier, the focus was on corruption charges against the previous Congress governments. Sarma had even claimed that if Rahul Gandhi returned to power, he would be jailed for corruption. But with Gaurav Gogoi’s elevation and Congress’s attempt to regain its lost ground, Sarma has chosen to reorient the campaign on communal lines.
Political observers see this as an attempt to:
-
Polarize voters along religious lines.
-
Divert attention from economic hardships and unemployment.
-
Consolidate the Hindu vote bank by portraying Muslims as demographic invaders.
4. Humanitarian and Legal Concerns
The scale of the evictions has raised humanitarian concerns. CM Sarma himself admitted that as of August 2, more than 29 bighas of land were still “illegally occupied,” suggesting that further evictions were likely. Many displaced families have not been provided with alternative shelter or compensation. The Chief Minister’s message to them: “Our people should not give them shelter,” adds to their vulnerability.
Civil rights activists and local NGOs argue that the government is using bulldozers as a political tool without verifying the citizenship or legality of land ownership. They have questioned the timing of the drive and the lack of due process.
Alternative Approaches
-
Due Diligence and Verification Before Eviction
Before displacing thousands, the government could undertake a detailed verification of land records, citizenship documents, and ensure legal notices are served. In many cases, families have lived on the land for decades. -
Rehabilitation and Resettlement
Instead of bulldozing homes, the government could focus on providing alternate housing under rehabilitation schemes. This would prevent humanitarian crises and ensure the state does not violate national and international human rights obligations. -
All-Party Consultation on NRC and Citizenship
To depoliticize the citizenship debate, a bipartisan committee involving representatives from all major parties, community leaders, and civil society organizations can be formed to review and suggest modifications to the NRC and citizenship process. -
Judicial Oversight
Introducing judicial oversight in eviction and citizenship matters would ensure that due process is followed and innocent citizens are not made scapegoats in political battles.
Challenges and the Way Forward
Challenges:
-
Legal Ambiguities:
Many of the evicted residents claim they possess documents proving their residency in Assam for decades. The lack of clarity in land ownership and the incomplete NRC process complicates legal verification. -
Communal Polarization:
The BJP’s rhetoric labeling Bengali-speaking Muslims as “encroachers” or “outsiders” fuels communal tension and can have long-lasting effects on social harmony. -
International Criticism and Human Rights:
Repeated targeting of a specific community under the guise of eviction may draw condemnation from international human rights organizations and damage India’s global image. -
Electoral Backlash:
While the BJP aims to consolidate its Hindu voter base, it risks alienating tribal communities and other minorities who view these evictions as oppressive. -
Displacement Without Support:
The absence of a structured resettlement policy for evicted families can lead to a large population being rendered homeless, leading to slums, poverty, and social unrest.
Way Forward:
-
The government must take a humane and lawful approach in any eviction or anti-encroachment drive.
-
Displacement should be accompanied by legal notice, time for appeal, and assured resettlement.
-
Citizenship issues must not be used as political tools to polarize voters but resolved through inclusive and transparent democratic processes.
-
Political parties must show restraint in using communal narratives for electoral gain.
-
Civil society must remain vigilant and actively document instances of abuse to ensure accountability.
Conclusion
The BJP’s shift in Assam from corruption-centric narratives to citizenship and eviction reflects its evolving electoral strategy. By invoking fears of demographic change, foreign encroachment, and illegal immigration, the party hopes to polarize voters and distract from governance challenges. However, such politics comes with a heavy cost—displacing thousands, instilling fear in minority communities, and eroding democratic institutions.
While CM Himanta Biswa Sarma claims to be defending Assam’s resources and identity, critics argue that the BJP is using state machinery to further communal agendas. With elections on the horizon, the people of Assam are once again caught between promises of development and the reality of bulldozers, border politics, and broken homes.
Five Questions and Answers
Q1. What is the main reason given by CM Sarma for the eviction drives in Assam?
A1. The Assam government claims the evictions are aimed at removing illegal encroachments by suspected foreigners, particularly Bengali-speaking Muslims, who are accused of settling on government and forest land without authorization.
Q2. Why are critics calling the eviction drives a political strategy?
A2. Critics argue that the BJP is using the eviction drives to polarize voters on religious lines ahead of the elections, shifting focus from corruption to communal and citizenship issues.
Q3. What are the humanitarian concerns arising from these evictions?
A3. Thousands of families have been displaced without resettlement or alternative housing, raising concerns over human rights violations and the lack of legal due process.
Q4. How has the Congress responded to these developments?
A4. The Congress has accused the BJP of targeting minorities and distracting from issues like unemployment and poor governance. Gaurav Gogoi questioned the BJP’s sincerity and compared their promises to land handovers to industrialists.
Q5. What is the larger implication of these eviction drives on Assam’s political landscape?
A5. The drives may deepen communal divisions, redefine electoral narratives, and raise questions about the use of state power for political gain. They also reignite debates on the NRC, citizenship, and identity in Assam.
