The 2026 Assam Assembly Elections are looming. While the equation in Assam once seemed smooth for the BJP, it no longer appears so. The state’s ethnic dynamics are changing. Muslims are uniting, and there is resentment among the Assamese as well. Seeing the situation deteriorating, Himanta Biswa Sarma, the BJP’s ‘Chanakya’ of Northeast India, has resorted to populist politics. He announced several financial assistance schemes for both men and women ahead of the elections.
Babu Asoni Scheme for boys in Assam
Assam government already provides separate allowances and other assistance to tribal communities and tea garden workers. This time, he announced a separate scheme for boys as well. On Thursday, the first day of the year, the Assam government announced the ‘Babu Asoni’ scheme. Under this scheme, from February 1, postgraduate male students will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 2000, and undergraduate students will receive Rs 1000. Starting this year, first-year undergraduate and postgraduate students will be covered under the scheme.
The beneficiaries of Assam’s “Babu Asoni” scheme are boy students pursuing higher education (HS, Graduation, PG, B.Ed.) in the state, from economically weaker sections, receiving Rs 1000-2000 monthly via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to help them continue their studies, similar to the existing ‘Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Moina Asoni’ for girls.
However, not all students will receive this assistance. Those whose parents are government employees or whose family’s annual income exceeds Rs 4 lakhs are excluded from this scheme. A similar scheme for female students already exists in Assam. CM Sarma had announced that this scheme would be launched for male students as well, and he has now implemented it just before the elections. The Assam Chief Minister announced on social media, “I had promised my brothers, and I have fulfilled that promise.”
Assam Orunodoi Scheme and ‘gifts’ for women
Not only for men, but the Assam Chief Minister has also announced additional ‘gifts’ for women. Under a scheme called Orunodoi in Assam, women receive a monthly allowance of Rs 1000. Ahead of the elections, Himanta announced that the allowance for five months, from January to April, will be given together in February, coinciding with Bihu. Along with this, women will receive an additional Rs 3,000 as a ‘Bohag Bihu’ gift. More than 37 lakh women in the state will receive this gift. This means that women will receive a one-time payment of Rs 8,000 just before the elections.
Himanta Biswa Sarma trying to buy votes with allowances: Opposition
In Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has established himself as one of the BJP’s most dynamic regional leaders – combining administrative centrality with aggressive political messaging – and the de facto voice of the seven northeastern states. Sarma is primarily focused on addressing challenges related to illegal immigration and resulting demographic shifts, while also navigating issues of economic development, infrastructure development, and political opposition.
However, questions around ethnic representation, the implications of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act implementation, and shifting tribal alignments will make this contest unpredictable.
The opposition views the Assam Chief Minister’s announcement as an attempt to buy votes. They argue that there are no jobs in the state, and there is no provision for women’s safety or income. Therefore, CM Sarma is trying to win them over by offering allowances.
While political analysts highlight challenges such as anti-incumbency in certain pockets and the need to manage complex alliances in regions like Bodoland, the current momentum heavily favours the incumbent government.