Guwahati, April 9 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that the ongoing Assembly elections in the state have transformed into a “people’s movement” aimed at safeguarding Assam’s identity, culture, and land.

In a post on X, Sarma asserted that the electoral exercise goes beyond a conventional political contest, describing it as a collective resolve of the people to protect their “civilisational values” and resist what he termed as illegal infiltration and demographic aggression.

“What we set out to do was not merely fight an election, but to turn it into a movement,” he wrote, adding that voters have come out in “unprecedented numbers”, with participation in several polling booths reportedly crossing 95 per cent.

According to official data, Assam recorded a voter turnout of 84.42 per cent till 5 p.m., reflecting strong public participation across constituencies. Polling was largely peaceful, with long queues seen outside booths since early morning.

Sarma said the high turnout indicates that people have risen above barriers of caste and language, voting with a unified objective to protect the state’s identity. “This is not ordinary. This is historic,” he said, terming the election a “watershed moment” in Assam’s political history.

The Chief Minister further claimed that the outcome of the election is already visible in the “hope, pride, and happiness” among voters, even before the counting of votes. Striking a confident tone, Sarma said the message from the electorate is “loud and clear”.

“Assam will not surrender. Assam will fight. Assam will survive. Assam will endure,” he stated.

The high-stakes election for the 126-member Assam Assembly has witnessed a direct contest between the ruling BJP-led NDA and the Congress-led opposition alliance, with both sides expressing confidence of victory.

–IANS

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