BJP bypoll wins prove public backs Modi, govt not afraid: Assam CM Sarma
Synopsis
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma took the fight to the Opposition in Haridwar, wielding BJP's recent bypoll wins in West Bengal and Assam to rebut claims that the Modi government is rattled — and pointedly asking critics to define what 'fear' even means in a democracy where elections remain the scorecard.
Key Takeaways
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma rejected Opposition claims of governmental fear while speaking to reporters in Haridwar on 10 October .
BJP cited bypoll victories in West Bengal and Assam as evidence of continued public backing for PM Narendra Modi .
Sarma challenged the Opposition to define 'fear,' saying elections are decided by work done for the people.
He dismissed political significance attached to the Opposition meeting President Droupadi Murmu or approaching the Supreme Court , calling them routine democratic interactions.
The remarks came amid ongoing political exchanges between the BJP and opposition parties over the Union government's functioning.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday, 10 October firmly rejected Opposition allegations that the Union government was running scared, pointing to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s recent bypoll victories in Assam and West Bengal as proof that Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to command strong popular support. Sarma made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Haridwar.
Bypoll Results as BJP's Rebuttal
Citing the party's electoral performance as evidence of public confidence, Sarma said, 'We have won bypolls in West Bengal as well as Assam. The number of people who have come to support PM Modi is many times greater than those who came to Delhi.' The statement was a pointed counter to Opposition narratives suggesting that anti-incumbency was building against the ruling establishment at the Centre.
Sarma added that BJP's record in Assam specifically reflected a major electoral mandate and expressed confidence the party would continue to perform strongly in future contests.
Sarma Questions the Definition of 'Fear'
Addressing the Opposition's repeated charge that the Union government was afraid, the Assam Chief Minister challenged the very premise of the allegation. 'What does it mean to say that the government is afraid? What is the definition of fear? Elections are about working for the people,' he said, framing governance performance — rather than opposition rhetoric — as the true benchmark of political accountability.
Sarma argued that a section of the Opposition had been persistently attempting to undermine the Union government but had failed to make headway with voters, who, he maintained, 'know everything, and they stand with PM Modi.'
On Opposition's Access to Constitutional Institutions
Sarma also addressed the Opposition's recent outreach to constitutional authorities, including President Droupadi Murmu, and their recourse to the Supreme Court. He questioned why such interactions were being portrayed as extraordinary political developments, noting that the President regularly meets a wide range of visitors and that thousands of citizens approach the Supreme Court daily.
His remarks appeared aimed at deflating the political symbolism that opposition parties sought to attach to such institutional engagements, characterising them as routine democratic activity rather than evidence of a crisis.
The Broader Political Context
Sarma's comments came amid a continuing war of words between the BJP and opposition parties over the functioning of the Union government. The Opposition has been ramping up efforts to highlight what it describes as governmental overreach and institutional pressure, while the ruling party has consistently pushed back by citing electoral mandates and development metrics.
This is not the first time Sarma has stepped forward as a vocal defender of the Centre's record — the Assam Chief Minister has frequently been among the BJP's most prominent voices in responding to Opposition criticism. His remarks in Haridwar on Saturday reinforced the party's position that popular support, as measured at the ballot box, is the ultimate arbiter of political legitimacy. How the Opposition responds — and whether its institutional outreach gains traction with voters — will shape the political temperature heading into the next electoral cycle.
Point of View
And Sarma's attempt to normalise those interactions suggests the BJP is alert to the optics. What neither side addresses directly is the substance of the fear allegation itself — the charge, however contested, tends to resonate when left unanswered on its merits. The real test will come in state-level elections where local anti-incumbency, not national Modi sentiment, decides outcomes.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma say about BJP and the Opposition?
Sarma asserted that BJP's bypoll victories in West Bengal and Assam prove that public support for PM Narendra Modi remains strong, while dismissing Opposition allegations that the Union government is afraid. He said the electorate 'knows everything' and stands with Modi.
Which bypolls did Sarma cite to defend the BJP's position?
Sarma specifically cited bypoll wins in West Bengal and Assam, arguing that the results demonstrate continued popular backing for the BJP and PM Modi despite sustained Opposition criticism.
What did Sarma say about the Opposition meeting President Droupadi Murmu?
Sarma questioned why such visits were being portrayed as exceptional, noting that President Murmu regularly meets a wide range of people and that thousands approach the Supreme Court every day. He suggested the Opposition was overstating the political significance of routine institutional interactions.
Why did Sarma challenge the 'government is afraid' allegation?
Sarma said the allegation lacked a coherent definition, asking critics to explain what 'fear' means in the context of a democracy. He argued that governments should be judged by the work they do for citizens, not by opposition rhetoric.
Where did Assam CM Sarma make these remarks?
Sarma made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Haridwar on Saturday, 10 October, amid ongoing political exchanges between the BJP and opposition parties over the functioning of the Union government.
