Asif Iqbal Naik
Jammu Dec 26: Jammu and Kashmir Leader of Opposition and senior BJP leader Sunil Kumar Sharma arrived in Assam today following his appointment as Co-In-Charge for the Assam Legislative Assembly elections by the Bharatiya Janata Party. His visit comes at a crucial time as the BJP has begun intensifying its organisational and strategic preparations for the 2026 Assam Assembly polls, where the party is aiming to secure a third consecutive term in power. Upon his arrival at Guwahati Airport, Sunil Sharma was accorded a warm welcome by senior Assam BJP leaders including Siddharth Bhattacharya, MLA and former State President, Bijulee Kalita Medhi, Member of Parliament from Guwahati, and Juri Sarma Bordoloi, State Vice President, reflecting the importance attached to his role by the party’s state unit. The BJP central leadership has entrusted Baijayant Panda, National Vice President, as the Election In-Charge for Assam, with Sunil Sharma and former Union Minister Darshana Ben Jardosh appointed as Co-In-Charges to strengthen coordination between the central and state leadership. Sunil Sharma’s induction into the Assam election management team is seen as recognition of his organisational acumen and political experience, particularly following his effective role in recent electoral and parliamentary strategies in Jammu and Kashmir. His visit is expected to focus on reviewing organisational preparedness, energising party cadres, and contributing to campaign planning as the BJP sharpens its outreach ahead of the high-stakes Assam elections.
Rise of Sunil Sharma from Kishtwar’s Hatta village to National Politics
Sunil Kumar Sharma’s political journey is widely seen as a story of grassroots rise, beginning from Hatta village in Kishtwar district, a remote and politically challenging region of Jammu and Kashmir. Starting his career at the local level, Sharma gradually built his influence through sustained public engagement, organisational work, and a strong connect with the people of Chenab Valley. His consistent electoral performances and administrative experience eventually propelled him into state-level politics, where he served as a minister and emerged as one of the BJP’s most articulate and assertive leaders in Jammu and Kashmir. Following the restoration of the legislative assembly, his elevation as Leader of Opposition marked a significant milestone, positioning him as a key face of the party in the Union Territory. His recent appointment as Co-In-Charge for the Assam Assembly elections reflects his transition onto the national political stage, underlining the BJP leadership’s confidence in his organisational abilities and strategic acumen, and symbolising a notable rise from a small village in Kishtwar to a role in shaping national-level electoral strategy.
Challenges for Sunil Sharma ahead of Assam elections
The political landscape in Assam presents a complex set of challenges that Sunil Kumar Sharma will need to navigate as the BJP pushes for a third consecutive victory in the state. Key political dimensions include managing anti-incumbency sentiments, addressing concerns related to immigration, NRC-CAA fallout, ethnic and indigenous identity issues, and balancing regional aspirations across Upper Assam, Barak Valley, and tribal-dominated hill districts. The party will also have to counter a rejuvenated Congress-led opposition and emerging regional alignments while maintaining cohesion within the NDA alliance. Economic issues such as employment, price rise, flood management, infrastructure development, and law-and-order concerns will significantly influence voter mood. As Co-In-Charge, Sunil Sharma’s challenge will lie in strengthening organisational unity, ensuring effective booth-level mobilisation, calibrating messaging sensitive to Assam’s socio-cultural diversity, and translating the BJP’s development narrative into electoral confidence, while preventing internal factionalism and consolidating both traditional and new voter bases to secure a historic third term for the party.
