Assam - The Purbottar

18 Feb

BJP Seeks Early Assam Elections Ahead of Rongali Bihu

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

BJP delegation, including MP Pradan Baruah, former Education Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya, and Dhrubajyoti Dauka, convened a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Guwahati, urging for the Assam Assembly elections to be held before the Rongali Bihu festival. They highlighted improvements in road infrastructure, connectivity, and law-and-order in the state as reasons for a timely electoral process. The Chief Election Commissioner, accompanied by Election Commissioner Vivek Joshi and Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goel, considered these requests during discussions.

18 Feb

Political Jolt for Indian National Congress as Suspended MLA Switches to Raijor Dal

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

In a significant development ahead of the Assembly elections in Assam, suspended Congress MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed has joined the Raijor Dal, led by Akhil Gogoi, marking the second defection from the Congress party within two days. Ahmed, who has served as an MLA for three terms representing the Baghbor constituency, was officially welcomed into the Raijor Dal by party leaders during an event in Kalagachia, Barpeta district. Earlier in the same week, another former Congress MLA, Abdur Rashid Mandal, made a similar move to Raijor Dal. During his address at the event, Ahmed declared his intention to seek nomination…

18 Feb

Congress Lacks Ground-Level Support, Claims Union Minister Sonowal

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal characterized the Opposition Congress in Assam as an “exhausted party” lacking grassroots support, asserting that its leaders only engage with the media without genuine commitment to societal needs. During a media conference in Dibrugarh, he dismissed the potential for Congress to regain power, highlighting the BJP-led government’s actions against illegal immigration and its efforts to ensure security for various communities, including Scheduled Tribes (STs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Sonowal emphasized the protection of land, property, dignity, and heritage under the NDA government, expressing confidence that youth and students in the Northeast believe…

18 Feb

Political Shift in Assam: Ex-PCC President Bhupen Borah Set to Enter BJP on Feb 22

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

In a significant political shift, former president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), Bhupen Kumar Borah, will join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on February 22, ahead of the Assam Assembly elections. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made the announcement following a meeting with Borah at his residence, which occurred shortly after Borah resigned from the Congress, a party he had been with for 32 years. Despite attempts by Congress leadership to persuade him to reconsider his resignation, Borah ultimately sought time to evaluate his position. Sarma expressed his delight over Borah's decision, noting that BJP state…

17 Feb

Delegation of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee met Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during his visit to Guwahati

Paromita EditorAssam

The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Tuesday met the Chief Election Commissioner of India, Gyanesh Kumar, during his visit to Guwahati and submitted a series of serious complaints. A delegation led by MP Rakibul Hussain and former Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora met the Chief Election Commissioner and apprised him in detail of the alleged harassment of common citizens in the name of Special Revision (SR) of electoral rolls. Addressing a press conference at Rajiv Bhawan in Guwahati, the two leaders alleged that, under the patronage of the Assam Government, the Election Commission machinery was being misused to harass…

17 Feb

BJP National President Nitin Nabin To Visit Assam On Feb 18-19

Paromita EditorAssam

BJP national president Nitin Nabin will undertake a two-day organisational visit to Dibrugarh in Upper Assam from Wednesday.Addressing a media conference at the party’s state headquarters on Tuesday, BJP state spokesperson Kalyan Gogoi informed that Nabin would land at Mohanbari Airport in Dibrugarh on Wednesday afternoon.“The BJP national president will be accorded a grand and traditional welcome by nearly two thousand dedicated karyakartas and cultural performers. Upon reaching Khanikar Chariali, he will be ceremonially received by 15 cultural troupes showcasing Assam’s vibrant heritage,” Gogoi said.Thereafter, Nabin will be escorted in an open vehicle to the Mancotta Playground to participate in…

17 Feb

Tea Tribes to Get Job Quotas: Assam Cabinet Nod Before Elections

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

On Tuesday, the Assam Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, approved a notable increase in reservation for the tea tribe community, a significant voter demographic, ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections. The Cabinet agreed to allocate 3 percent reservation for the tea tribes and Adivasi community in Class I and Class II State Government positions, augmenting the existing provisions for Class III and Class IV roles. This decision is interpreted as a strategic move by the BJP-led government to attract the votes of these communities. Additionally, the Cabinet authorized the Public Works Department (PWD) to initiate the construction…

17 Feb

Poll Preparedness Under Focus as Election Commission of India Team Holds Talks with Recognised Parties in Assam

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Majority of the recognized national and state political parties in Assam have requested the Election Commission of India (ECI) to conduct the upcoming state Assembly elections in either a single phase or a maximum of two phases. This appeal was made during a review meeting held by a visiting ECI delegation led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Guwahati. Participating national parties included the Aam Aadmi Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Indian National Congress, alongside state parties such as the All-India United Democratic Front, Asom Gana Parishad, Bodoland People's Front, and the United People's…

17 Feb

Agniveer Drive Begins: Indian Army Calls for Applications from Lower and Western Assam

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Indian Army has announced an online recruitment process for unmarried male candidates to enlist as Agniveers under the Agnipath Scheme for 2027. Applications are open exclusively for individuals from specific districts in lower and western Assam, including Barpeta, Kokrajhar, and Dhubri, among others, and must be submitted by April 1, 2026. The selection recruitment process will unfold in two phases: Phase I will involve an Online Computer-Based Common Entrance Examination (CEE) held at designated venues within the state. Successful candidates from the online exam will progress to Phase II, which consists of a Recruitment Rally. Candidates interested in applying…

17 Feb

Simalu Festival Soars: Assam’s First-Ever Full Trail Run Sparks National Interest

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

On February 14-15, 2026, the third Simalu Festival took place in the picturesque setting of the Brahmaputra floodplain, organized by Laokhowa and Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries under the esteemed Kaziranga Tiger Reserve. This vibrant event coincided with the striking bloom of simalu flowers (Bombax ceiba), transforming the landscape into a stunning display of crimson hues. Initially a local celebration of nature, the festival has evolved into a national symbol of responsible tourism, attracting adventure enthusiasts nationwide to engage with the natural world in a whisper-soft manner. A notable feature of this year's festival was Assam's inaugural "Wild Trails" 32-kilometer trail run,…