The BJP will win 12 of the 14 Lok Sabha seats from Assam and more than 300 seats across the country in 2024, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, while addressing party workers in Dibrugarh on Tuesday. After his overnight stay at Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh, close to the China border, Shah reached Dibrugarh to lay the foundation stone of an Upper Assam regional BJP office, which he said will be the base for workers across six Lok Sabha constituencies in the region. Exuding confidence that Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term, he said: “I want to tell Congress waale, kaan kholke sun lijiye (listen carefully). In 2024, Lok Sabha elections will take place. Of the 14 seats, the BJP will be victorious in 12 and Modi ji will become PM for a third time in a row with more than 300 seats.” “Bodoland has become peaceful today. The Karbi region has become peaceful. Adivasi groups have surrendered. Assam is resolving its border disputes with all neighbouring states. It’s because of Modi ji’s good governance that today progress is happening in Assam… Assam that was once suffering from agitation and terrorism, is now celebrating with the songs and dance of Bihu,” he said, while referring to a mega event that will be held in Guwahati on April 14 in which over 11,000 dancers will perform in the presence of Modi. Talking about the recent Assembly elections, Shah said: “Recently, elections were held in three Northeastern states — Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland. In all these states, BJP is part of the government. In Tripura, a BJP government has been formed with full majority for a second time. In Nagaland, with our 13 MLAs, we are once again part of the government with a Deputy Chief Minister. And in Meghalaya, too, we are part of the government. Today, I want to congratulate the people of Assam. The victory march of the BJP has made its way to all eight states,” he said. Taking a dig at the Congress, he said: “There was a time when the Northeast was considered a fortress of the Congress. Rahul baba did a yatra (Bharat Jodo Yatra) when the elections in these states were due, but still the Congress was wiped clean. But Rahul baba did not understand. He goes abroad and badmouths India. Should any patriot badmouth the country on the foreign soil? Rahul baba, please understand, if you continue down this path, not just in the Northeast, the Congress will be wiped clean from the whole country.” Like in all recent public addresses by senior BJP leaders in the Northeast, Shah reiterated that the government under Modi’s leadership has rolled back the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from 70 per cent of Assam’s territory.
