Evictions, Displacement Likely to Influence 15–20 Seats in Assam Polls

Guwahati, March 26: Large-scale eviction drives and the resulting displacement of thousands of people have emerged as a crucial electoral issue ahead of the Assam Assembly elections, with political observers indicating that it could influence outcomes in at least 15–20 constituencies.
Since 2021, the BJP-led government under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has carried out multiple eviction drives across the state to clear alleged encroachments on government and forest land. Official figures suggest that tens of thousands of acres have been reclaimed, affecting a large number of families, particularly in lower Assam and riverine (char) areas.
The issue has now become a central theme in election campaigns. Opposition parties, including the Indian National Congress and regional outfits like Raijor Dal, have accused the government of carrying out evictions without ensuring proper rehabilitation, compensation, or resettlement for displaced families.
Candidates in several constituencies have made eviction-related grievances a key campaign plank, highlighting the loss of homes, agricultural land, and livelihoods. Many affected residents, especially farmers, continue to face economic uncertainty after being uprooted from land they depended on for sustenance.
The state government, however, has defended the drives, stating that they are necessary to reclaim illegally occupied land and uphold the rule of law. It has also linked the eviction policy to broader concerns over land protection and illegal encroachment, maintaining that the actions are not targeted at any specific community.
Political analysts note that the eviction issue is deeply intertwined with longstanding and sensitive themes in Assam, including land rights, identity, and migration. As a result, it is expected to play a decisive role in several closely contested constituencies.
With polling approaching, eviction and displacement have joined other key issues such as development, welfare, and citizenship debates in shaping the political narrative of the state.