Guwahati: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday announced a set of promises for the people of poll-bound Assam, pledging free education from school up to the university level, two lakh govt jobs, free distribution of essential commodities, bicycles for minors, and houses for tea garden workers.Sarma likened the announcements to cricketing “sixes” rather than “fours,” underscoring the scale of commitments. “We are not here to play for boundaries. I prefer hitting sixes. I do more than what I promise,” he said, drawing a loud applause from party workers at a rally in Golaghat while attending ally AGP president Atul Bora’s submission of nomination papers.Sarma’s “sixes” package blends populist welfare with budget-backed schemes, targeting the same constituencies that powered BJP’s rise in 2016. These promises come on the back of the state budget, which had already expanded flagship welfare schemes.Assam’s chief electoral officer Anurag Goel has clarified that promises made by political parties or candidates during campaigning are permissible under the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), provided they are framed as future commitments and not as immediate government decisions. His remarks came when asked about CM Sarma’s “sixes” package of welfare pledges.“Political parties and candidates are free to give their agenda — to say we will do this if we come back to power. That is allowed as long as they don’t say that my govt will do this. That is specific. Any opposition party can also say that if he comes to power, we will introduce this scheme. We will distribute this. There’s no problem,” Goel said.“The CM is not saying that my govt will do this. There is a difference. It is only when they are declaring something. Let us see in that light,” Goel said.The BJP-led govt through its most ambitious self-employment programme for women yet — the over Rs 3000-cr Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan (MMUA) — aimed at empowering women through entrepreneurship and financial independence covered a staggering 40 lakh women giving them Rs 10,000 as seed capital. “Now we will have to give ₹25,000 loan to each of them,” Sarma announced. The Rs. 25,000 will be facilitated through bank linkage as mentioned in the budget.Sarma said the govt had earlier charged ₹100 for the ration pack but would now provide the entire basket free of cost. “This time we took ₹100 for one kg of dal, salt and sugar. Next time we will add one litre of mustard oil to the pack and all will be for free,” he declared, drawing cheers from the crowd.Sarma said the responsibility of educating children would now rest with the govt, not parents. “From school to university, boys and girls will get free education. Their responsibility will no longer be on their parents but on the govt,” he declared.He added that even minors without voting rights would receive bicycles.The CM also pledged to cover all families left out of housing schemes and the monthly Orunodoi cash transfer programme, ensuring universal inclusion. Under Orunodoi scheme in 37.2 lakh households the head women have been receiving monthly transfers of Rs 1250.“This time we gave land pattas to tea gardens. Next time, we will provide financial assistance to build their houses,” Sarma said, directly addressing tea garden workers in the key district.He pointed to the creation of 1.6 lakh jobs without a single bribe, promising to raise the figure to 2 lakh jobs in the next term.Highlighting his govt’s record, Sarma claimed no administration had worked as effectively in the past five years. “In the next five years, we will deliver four times more,” he asserted.BJP’s welfare plank has historically delivered dividends. In 2016, its trump card was the loan waiver for women borrowers of microfinance companies, a move that resonated widely across rural Assam and helped the party secure power. Sarma’s latest promises appear designed to replicate that success, with women, youth, and tea tribes again at the centre of the outreach.
