No outsiders, only locals: Massive rally in Assam's Dhalai puts BJP leadership under pressure

With the 2026 Assam Assembly elections drawing closer, political temperatures are rising sharply in the Barak Valley, particularly in the Dhalai Assembly constituency, where thousands of BJP workers and supporters on Monday, January 12 staged a massive demonstration demanding that the party field a local candidate for the upcoming polls.

The rally, described by organisers as a historic show of unity, witnessed the participation of over 10,000 people, who marched through various parts of Dhalai raising slogans against the selection of “outsider” candidates. The central demand resonating throughout the march was unequivocal — the BJP ticket should be allotted to a candidate rooted in Dhalai.

Protesters asserted that the constituency requires a representative who has lived in the area for years, worked at the grassroots level, and understands the social and economic realities of the local population. “This time, no outsider should be imposed on Dhalai,” demonstrators chanted, calling for the party to prioritise local leadership.

The mobilisation comes at a politically significant moment, as Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma is scheduled to visit the Barak Valley on Tuesday along with senior BJP leaders and address a large public meeting in Dhalai. Preparations for the Chief Minister’s visit are underway in full swing, with BJP flags and the party’s election symbol, the Lotus, prominently displayed across the constituency.

Against this backdrop, the rally held just a day before the Chief Minister’s arrival is being viewed as a calculated effort by local ticket aspirants and their supporters to draw the attention of the party’s top leadership and influence the candidate selection process.

Observers note that the demonstration reflects a broader trend across several constituencies in Cachar district, where demands for local representation have gained momentum as the election season approaches.

Whether this strong public mobilisation in Dhalai will impact the BJP’s final decision on ticket distribution remains to be seen. The party leadership now faces the challenge of balancing organisational strategy with grassroots sentiment — a question that is likely to be answered in the run-up to the 2026 Assembly elections.