Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday, 8 May described the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) victory in West Bengal as a "historic moment" for the party, saying the development would significantly strengthen the BJP's footprint across eastern and northeastern India. Sarma made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Guwahati, a day before the swearing-in ceremony of the new government in West Bengal.

A Political Milestone for the BJP-NDA Alliance

Sarma said Saturday would mark a major political milestone for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Ministers from nearly 21 states expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

"Tomorrow is a day of victory for us. It is a very important occasion for the BJP and the NDA family because after the BJP's rise in West Bengal, almost the entire eastern and northeastern region will now have BJP or NDA governments," Sarma said.

He noted that, barring a few exceptions, most states in eastern and northeastern India were now governed either by the BJP or its allies — a consolidation he argued would help accelerate regional development and improve coordination among states.

Post-Poll Violence and Hopes for Stability

Referring to incidents of violence reported in West Bengal following the Assembly polls, Sarma expressed confidence that the situation would stabilise once the new government formally assumed office.

"Incidents have taken place in West Bengal, but I believe that after the new government takes charge from tomorrow, peace and normalcy will gradually return. I have no doubt about that," he said.

This comes amid widespread reports of post-election clashes in parts of Bengal — a pattern that has followed multiple state election cycles in recent years and drawn national attention.

Border Security and Illegal Immigration

Sarma also reiterated his long-standing position on illegal immigration and border security, stating that sealing the international border remained a top priority for the BJP-led government.

"It is not practically possible to deport one-and-a-half or two crore people overnight. But fencing along the border will continue and the international boundary will be fully secured. We will be able to stop fresh infiltration, and thereafter the process of identifying and deporting illegal immigrants already residing within the country will continue gradually," Sarma said.

He asserted that the government remained committed to safeguarding national security and demographic balance, and that all actions would be carried out strictly within the framework of the law.

Regional Connectivity and Infrastructure Push

Sarma further said that stronger coordination among BJP-ruled states in the region would help improve infrastructure, trade connectivity, and internal security across eastern and northeastern India. The consolidation of NDA governance across the region, he argued, creates a structural opportunity to fast-track long-pending connectivity and development projects that have historically required multi-state cooperation.

With the swearing-in set for Saturday, all eyes will be on how the new Bengal government addresses both post-poll violence and the broader governance agenda that the BJP has campaigned on.