Assam: Formerly considered the most vibrant and communicative political entity in the Northeast, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam is now clearly showing signs of political fatigue. The state’s two key leaders—Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal—are playing contrasting yet equally ineffective roles. Sonowal’s silence, once seen as a symbol of patience and balance, now signals a disconnect from the public. His absence on emotional events like the floods, the border issue, and the death of singer Zubin Garg has isolated him from the mainstream.
Sarma’s Hyperactive Governance and Symbolic Politics
In contrast, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has adopted a highly visible style—a series of daily announcements, directives, and symbolic visits. However, this energy of his governance has now become tired, repetitive, and performative. The BJP’s political machine in Assam, once known for its command of messaging and control over social media, now appears to be losing its narrative and moral edge. Even everyday administrative decisions are becoming controversial. Issues like evacuation drives, “MIA” identity politics, and cultural wars no longer appear to be extensions of governance, but rather alternatives to it.
Information Control and the Impact on the Media
The BJP’s media control is also now showing cracks. A select few print and TV media houses, whose assets are linked to political or administrative interests, control public discourse. What was once a symbiotic relationship between the government and the media has now gradually become coercive. Journalists discuss “no-go topics,” investigative stories disappear from the news, and opinion columns gradually become PR-style narratives. Corruption allegations and opacity in government projects have increased the government’s reliance on information management.
Snowal’s Silence and Sarma’s Fatigue
Former Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, once known as “Mr. Clean,” is now maintaining a deliberate silence. His public appearances are merely ceremonial, statements diplomatic, and political signals almost indistinguishable. His silence has only exacerbated the power vacuum surrounding Sarma. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the BJP’s most dynamic political face from the Northeast, is now facing increasing public fatigue. His centralized and media-saturated governance model is gradually losing momentum. The SIT investigation into Zubin Garg’s death, alleged irregularities in welfare distribution, and the opaqueness of public contracts have all dented his “smart CM” image.
