GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is not just an excellent orator but he can dance his way into people’s hearts too.
He hummed and shook a leg every time “Akou Ebar Modi Sarkar” (Modi government again), the BJP’s popular poll song, was played out at his rallies.
The last four of Assam’s 14 parliamentary seats will go to polls in the third phase on May 7.
After campaigning came to a close on Sunday, the BJP shared the details of Sarma’s campaign-related engagements since the time the notification for the elections was issued.
"My election campaign in Assam was like a pilgrimage. In the last 40 days, I covered the entire state and addressed 117 public meetings and road shows. It felt like a holy dip in the Ganges for me. The lively atmosphere and blessings completely rejuvenated me. I will continue to dedicate every moment of my life to the people of Assam," Himanta wrote on 'X'.
“The CM addressed 100 election meetings, took part in eight roadshows and attended 11 party meetings outside Guwahati. He covered 104 constituencies (Assam has 126 Assembly segments),” BJP’s Rajya Sabha member Pabitra Margherita told journalists on Sunday.
He said an estimated 20,000 to one lakh people had attended each of the events.
Pallab Lochan Das, a Lok Sabha member of the party, said Sarma is full of energy and he loves to connect with people.
“He is an inspiration for the youth and all political workers. We observed that the level of his energy in his first and last rallies was the same,” Das, who was denied a ticket this election, said.
“He makes the atmosphere at his rallies vibrant by dancing. You will not find even a hint of fatigue on his face. He himself said he gets this energy from people’s love for him,” Das said, adding, “He is the biggest celebrity”.
In most of his rallies, Sarma interacted with people and took selfies with them.
He told a crowd at a rally on Sunday that the poll song was written by Margherita, and composed and sung by Simanta Shekhar, a popular Assamese singer who is now with the BJP.
“Over the past 40-45 days, I danced with around 20 lakh people. I liked the song when I first listened to it in 2019. These days, the song reverberates around me even when I go to bed,” Sarma, who is going outside the state on April 9 for campaigning, said.