Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma (L), Gaurav Gogoi along with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (R). (PTI Photo/File) With voting for the April 9 Assam Assembly elections approaching, the Congress and the BJP have unveiled sharply contrasting manifestos, pitching competing visions on welfare, governance and economic growth. The Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, has focused its campaign on social welfare, institutional reforms and inclusive development, while the BJP has foregrounded infrastructure investment, indigenous rights and continuity of governance under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Congress: Welfare, transparency, institutional reform The Congress manifesto, titled ‘Raijor Istahar’, lays out 11 sectoral priorities including governance, healthcare, agriculture and industrialisation. It promises Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for six indigenous communities, a long-pending demand in the state. The party has pledged the creation of an anti-corruption commission with judicial oversight, along with a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe large land allocations to corporates. It also proposes a “White Paper” on Assam’s financial condition within 100 days of forming government. Among key welfare measures, the Congress promises industrial minimum wages for tea workers, improved basic services in tea garden areas, and a mandatory weekly day off for police personnel. It also plans to prioritise locals in jobs and government contracts, strengthen autonomous councils, and rehabilitate displaced tribal communities. In the economic sphere, the party has proposed a Rs 1,000-crore Assam Youth Entrepreneur Venture Fund to support startups, along with MSME cluster development and entrepreneurship missions. The manifesto outlines a phased governance roadmap - immediate trust-building measures within 100 days, institutional reforms within a year, and structural transformation over five years, including universal healthcare and 100 per cent school enrolment. The BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’, released by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, emphasises economic expansion and infrastructure-led growth, with a headline promise of Rs 5 lakh crore in investments. The party has committed to protecting the land, heritage and rights of indigenous communities, alongside measures such as implementing a Uniform Civil Code and recovering encroached land. Highlighting its governance record, the BJP has framed its manifesto around what it calls a “decade of transformation” in Assam, contrasting it with the Congress’ past rule. It has stressed job creation, development-driven migration reversal, and stability as key achievements and future priorities. While both parties address employment, governance and development, their approaches diverge significantly. The Congress leans toward rights-based welfare, institutional accountability and redistributive measures, with a strong emphasis on transparency and social justice. Its promises target grassroots sectors such as tea workers, rural communities and public services. The BJP, on the other hand, prioritises large-scale investment, infrastructure expansion and continuity of policy direction, positioning stability and economic growth as central to Assam’s progress.