GUWAHATI :  Recent statements by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, blaming a “particular religion” for the BJP-led NDA’s electoral losses in the Northeast states of Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland, have been severely criticised by the newly-elected opposition in the Lok Sabha, especially the Congress party.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, recently, while interacting with the media in Guwahati, blamed groups and people of a “particular religion” (believed to be Christians) for the electoral losses incurred by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners in the Northeast states of Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

“Regarding results in Nagaland, Manipur and Meghalaya my specific observation is that leaders from a particular religion – who usually do not get into politics – decided to fight the NDA,” said Assam CM and NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma on June 04 after results for the Lok Sabha elections were declared by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

He added: “That religion has tremendous followers in those states. No one can fight with a religion, it’s political. Usually, they don’t interfere in politics, but this time they did.”

Slamming this “highly communal statement”, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi strongly criticized Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, calling the CMs of these three states to publicly denounce Sarma’s comments, accusing the Assam CM of lacking the maturity to take responsibility for the BJP’s setbacks.

“I condemn the irresponsible and reckless statement of the chief minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma. He does not have the maturity to accept the responsibility for the losses of the NDA in Nagaland, Meghalaya and Manipur,” Gaurav Gogoi said.

“I appeal to the chief ministers of the respective states to publicly condemn the statement. Together we must preserve the unique identity of the Northeast.”

Notably, while Nagaland and Meghalaya are Christian-majority states, Christianity is the second most followed religion in Manipur.  Recently, Christian groups across the Northeast have voiced dissatisfaction over BJP-backed groups targeting Christian institutions.

In the two Lok Sabha seats of Tura and Shillong in Meghalaya, the BJP had supported the candidates fielded by NDA constituent – National People’s Party (NPP).  However, both the NPP candidates, Agatha Sangma (Tura) and Ampareen Lyngdoh (Shillong), tasted defeat at the hands of Saleng A Sangma (Congress) and Ricky Andrew J Syngkon (VPP).

In the two Lok Sabha seats of Inner and Outer Manipur, candidates of the BJP and its ally Naga People’s Front (NPF) Thounaojam Basanta Singh and Kachui Timothy Zimik also faced humiliating defeats.  Both the Inner and Outer Manipur seats were bagged by the Congress party.

While A Bimol Akoijam secured win in the Meitei-majority Inner Manipur seat, the Outer Manipur seat was bagged Alfred Kanngam S Arthur.  On the other hand, the Congress scripted history by winning the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland after a gap of 20 years.

Congress candidate S Supongmeren Jamir defeated his nearest rival Chumben Murry of the NDPP, a BJP ally, by a margin of 50,984 votes.