Assam Assembly Election 2016: BJP’s Rainbow Alliance

During the post independence period the electoral politics of Assam had been dominated by Indian National Congress (INC) up to mid 80s except one occasion in 1978 when Janata party became the single largest by winning 63 seats in 126 member State Assembly. But towards the end of 70s the socio-political situation of the state started changing significantly with the beginning of a mass agitation by different organisation mainly All Assam Students Union( AASU) demanding deportation of illegal immigrants from the neighbouring countries who considered to be a threat to the identity of the indigenous people. This agitation was culminated with the signing of Assam Accord which gave a breakthrough to the regional politics of the state leading to the formation of the First Regional Party Government in 1985 which is considered as one of the most important political event in the history of Assam. AGP, s dominance in the politics of the state was short-lived. As a national political party BJP has been present in the electoral politics of Assam since long back without any remarkable achievement except in 1991 and 2006 when the party won 10 seats in both the assembly election. But the party gradually could catch hold of the situation capitalising its grass roots mobilisation during the last three consecutive terms of congress rule from 2006 to 2016. In this article an attempt is being made to analysis the factors and circumstances that led to the formation of BJP government in 2016.