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When asked about the influx of Miya people into the BJP, the chief minister stated that those who were in Assam before 1951 are not unknown faces
The Miya community’s attire had never been politically associated with the BJP. Image/News18
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s strong statements against gaining or expecting “Miya” votes during public rallies are well-known. However, recently, there have been reports of this community joining the Bharatiya Janata Party in various parts of the state. These surprising developments have created a stir in Assam’s political landscape.
When asked about the influx of Miya people into the BJP, the CM stated that those who were in Assam before 1951 are not unknown faces. “If, against all odds, they are joining the BJP, what can I do?” said the Chief Minister. However, the CM expressed reservations about Congress’s “New Greater Assam” initiative, which he believes is not a holistic move and favours Miyas who entered Assam later.
The Miya (Bengali Muslim) community’s attire had never been politically associated with the BJP. Seeing someone in Miya attire wearing a BJP saffron cap at a political meeting can turn heads, especially when the current government is actively conducting eviction drives against illegal settlements affecting this community in various parts of the state. Whether these new members will translate into votes in the upcoming elections is speculative, but the social stigma of aligning with the BJP seems to be diminishing.
“The Congress and AIUDF have pushed us to the wall, leading to problems including evictions. Now we have joined the BJP to get rid of this,” said a voter from the Dhing constituency after donning a saffron cap. Another person added, “I want the BJP to return to power to resolve the issues our community faces because of Congress, which we had previously supported,” while the crowd chanted “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Narendra Modi ki Jai” at a joining programme in the Dhing constituency, which has a majority Miya community, under Nagaon district.
Guwahati [Gauhati], India, India
February 07, 2026, 18:13 IST
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