Guwahati, Jan 22: Assam BJP has decided to reach out to the Muslim population of Assam, who are one of the deciding factors during the elections. Before the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, the BJP has geared up and chalked out strategies to appease the voters.

Speaking to media persons, BJP state unit president Bhabesh Kalita said, “We will go to Muslims. Our development scheme is for all and we do not differentiate on this.”

In assembly polls in 2021, several BJP leaders had stated that they do not require a Muslim vote.

But now, the top leadership of BJP has decided to reach out to the marginalised communities, regardless of whether they vote for the party or not.

BJP has suddenly changed their gear and decided to touch everyone to take them into their fold before the Lok Sabha elections, slated to be held next year.

In 2019 parliamentary polls, BJP in Assam increased its tally from seven in 2014 to 9 in 2019. Across the Northeast India, BJP, which had won 8 seats in the 2014 parliamentary elections increased the seat tally to 14 in 2019. Together with its allies, BJP won 18 seats out of 25 seats, the best ever performance of the Saffron party in the region.

Assam has the highest Muslim population after Jammu and Kashmir. Muslims comprise of 34% of the 3.12 crore population of Assam, of which 4% are indigenous Assamese Muslims and the remaining mostly Bengali-speaking Muslims.