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Articles by Sandhya GoswamiSubscribe to Sandhya Goswami

Understanding the Political Shift in Assam

Vol. 50, Issue No. 39, 26 Sep, 2015
Sandhya Goswami, Vikas Tripathi

Assam was a Congress stronghold in the post-Congress era. However, the 2014 Lok Sabha elections marked a signifi cant political shift with the Bharatiya Janata Party making significant inroads. The trend continued with the recent elections to the Bodoland Territorial Council and urban local bodies. This article explores the changing political dynamics of the state which assume added significance because elections to the state assembly are slated for early 2016.

Assam: Mandate for Peace and Development

Vol. 46, Issue No. 23, 04 Jun, 2011
Sandhya Goswami

The Congress Party's emphatic return to power in Assam following assembly elections was the consequence of a perceived and deserved image of "peace and development" during its rule in the state. It managed to retain power despite a pervasive image of corruption as the opposition was disunited and unable to raise issues of consequence to large sections of the electorate in the state.

Assam: A Fractured Verdict

Vol. 44, Issue No. 39, 26 Sep, 2009
Sandhya Goswami

This article attempts to look at the social pattern of voting in Assam by analysing the verdict of the 2009 Lok Sabha elections in the state. The social pattern reflects a significant transformation in the alignment of social groups displaying a deep-rooted fractured politics with almost every community asserting its identity. Ideology seemed to have taken a back seat as political parties opted for statelevel alliances with the intent of bolstering individual seat tallies.

An Appeal for Sanity

Vol. 42, Issue No. 03, 20 Jan, 2007
Amalendu Guha, Anima Guha, Hiren Gohain, Monirul Hussain, other concerned citizens, Sandhya Goswami

The following statement was issued on January 12 by concerned citizens of Assam about the enormous scale of violence in the state and its consequences for the future.

Assam : Mixed Verdict

Vol. 39, Issue No. 51, 18 Dec, 2004
Sandhya Goswami

While the Lok Sabha results were largely a victory for the Congress, the elections also marked the revival of the Asom Gana Parishad. The results in a way reflect the resurgence of regionalism to a certain extent in the state. Electoral competition has led to the mobilisation of the formerly passive socio-economic groups and brought them into the political arena. The realignment in the relationships between various social groups has made contemporary Assam a virtual laboratory of the politics of ethnicities.

Assam : Vote against Misgovernance

Vol. 38, Issue No. 14, 05 Apr, 2003
Sandhya Goswami

The tea labourers in Assam have always played a significant role in electoral politics. The recently held by-election for the Khumtai assembly constituency, dominated by tea tribes, has brought to the fore important issues - regionalism, intra-party, politics and most importantly, misgovernance - that will impact on electoral politics in the state, especially the Lok Sabha polls in 2004.

Assam

Vol. 36, Issue No. 19, 12 May, 2001
Sandhya Goswami

The success of the AGP-NDA alliance will depend on how successfully the AGP allays the fears of the minorities over the BJP's communal agenda. The AGP's support base has been eroded by its non-performance and rampant corruption in the government. The minorities may well incline towards the Congress in the absence of other choices. But with the likelihood of a minority front being formed, the electoral prospects for the Congress are not so bright either.

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