Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, delivered a keynote address at the BJP Assam Pradesh State Executive Meeting in Guwahati on Sunday, calling on party workers to leverage the “Double Engine” government’s goodwill while warning against internal discord ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
Addressing a packed gathering at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra, the senior BJP leader emphasised that while the party operates from a position of historical strength, the path to victory requires unwavering discipline and a rejection of over-enthusiasm. He noted that the party’s confidence stems from governance outcomes delivered since 2016 under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yet cautioned that the cadre must remain vigilant against the pitfalls of success.
Regarding the 2026 Assembly elections, we head in from a position of strength, thanks to more than a decade of Modi-led governance, Sonowal stated during his address. But he was quick to add a note of sobriety for the thousands of karyakartas in attendance, saying that they must not become over-enthusiastic and that everyone has to remain restrained and disciplined. He pointed out that while the people are with the party, it is paramount that there is no infighting within their own ranks, as unity remains the bedrock of their electoral success.
The Union Minister drew a sharp contrast between the current administration and previous Congress regimes, alleging that for nearly sixty years, Assam and the Northeast were denied peace, development, and dignity. He credited Prime Minister Modi for bridging the emotional hiatus and bringing the region into the national mainstream after decades of being treated as a peripheral afterthought.
Sonowal remarked that if the situation had continued as it was under the Congress, such a large organisational meeting could not have been held in Guwahati, referencing the period of serial blasts and instability that once plagued the state.
Concluding his address, Sonowal reminded the party of its guiding principle of nation first, party second, and self last.
