Dibrugarh: Former Union minister and senior BJP leader Smriti Irani on Tuesday hit the campaign trail in Dhemaji district, addressing a poll rally at the Sarvodaya High School playground in Jonai in support of BJP candidate and three-time MLA Bhubon Pegu.Urging voters to return BJP to power for a historic third consecutive term, Irani made a passionate case for continuing the momentum of the double-engine govt under CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. “The people of Jonai and Assam have seen with their own eyes what a govt with vision, commitment and honest leadership can deliver. Pegu has been your faithful servant for years and the BJP govt has stood by you at every step. I urge every voter in this constituency to press the lotus button and ensure that the double-engine govt continues its good work for the people of Assam,” Irani told the gathering.On the prospect of a third consecutive BJP govt in Assam, Irani was unequivocal. “Let me say this with complete confidence — BJP will form the govt in Assam for the third consecutive time under the dynamic leadership of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. The people of Assam are voting for stability, for development and for a govt that delivers on its promises,” she declared to a thunderous applause.Irani drew a sharp contrast between the BJP’s governance record and what she described as the failures of the opposition. “When Congress ruled this state, what did the people of Assam get? Floods of corruption, rivers of unfulfilled promises and decades of neglect. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam has witnessed a transformation that no one could have imagined just ten years ago. That is the difference between a party that talks and a party that delivers,” she said.Appealing directly to the voters of Jonai, Irani invoked the constituency’s own remarkable electoral verdict of 2021 as a testament to Pegu’s popularity and credibility. Pegu had won that election by a record-shattering margin of 1,10,987 votes against Congress candidate Hema Hari Prasanna Pegu — one of the largest victory margins in Assam’s recent electoral history. Pegu had also previously won from Jonai twice, in 2006 and 2016, as an Independent candidate before joining BJP.“Pegu won by over one lakh votes in 2021. That was the people of Jonai speaking with one voice, telling the nation that they trust this man and they trust this party. I have no doubt that Jonai will speak with that same voice again,” Irani said.With no other candidates having filed nominations, the contest in Jonai is set to be a straight fight between Pegu and Congress candidate Raj Kumar Medok.Closing her address, Irani urged party workers and supporters to leave nothing to chance in the final stretch of campaigning. “Every booth matters, every vote matters and every worker matters. Go to every home, speak to every voter and remind them that their vote is a vote for Assam’s future. Bring Pegu back to the assembly and bring BJP back to power,” she said, energising the crowd.
