In a surprising turn of events, Assam Minister Ranjit Kumar Dass has stirred controversy with a bold declaration in Barpeta Road.
Addressing a crowd, Minister Dass announced that if the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] secure victory in the upcoming Barpeta Lok Sabha elections, he would undertake a drastic measure: cutting off one of his hands or abstaining from using one.
This startling statement has added a new dimension to the political landscape, drawing attention to the significance of the impending elections, particularly for minority voters in the state. The minister's remarks come in the wake of challenges faced by the BJP's minority outreach efforts, with the party's minority morcha failing to consolidate votes in previous elections, leading to its dissolution.
Despite claims of significant minority support, particularly following the influx of new minority members into the BJP fold in Sarbhog, Minister Dass emphasized that the true measure of minority backing would only be evident post-election, cautioning against premature assessments.
In a bid to rally support, Minister Dass highlighted the BJP's confidence in securing 11 assured seats in Assam, attributing this success to the support garnered from various central government schemes under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He further pledged a potential boost to religious minority voters, promising an increase to 13 BJP-held seats if they lend their support to the party in the upcoming elections.
The minister also made specific predictions regarding the outcomes in key constituencies, foreseeing victories for Sarbananda Sonowal in Dibrugarh and Tapan Gogoi in Jorhat, with significant victory margins projected for both candidates.
Responding to claims from the CPI(M) candidate in Barpeta, Minister Dass dismissed any possibility of opposition success, humorously suggesting that even tree leaves and coconut husks would need to cast votes for such an outcome to occur.
As the electoral atmosphere heats up, Minister Ranjit Kumar Dass's unconventional declaration adds a layer of intrigue to the unfolding political narrative in Assam, highlighting the stakes involved in the upcoming elections.