The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday, January 24, launched a fleet of video vans in Guwahati to collect public feedback and suggestions for its upcoming Assam Assembly election manifesto, marking the start of a large-scale grassroots outreach drive in the city.
The initiative was inaugurated at the Khanapara playground walking zone, a prominent public space in Guwahati, in the presence of senior BJP leaders, including Himanta Biswa Sarma and Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia.
The BJP launched 21 video vans in Guwahati to collect public feedback for its Assam Assembly election manifesto. Flagged off at Khanapara in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the vans will record citizens’ suggestions and concerns as part of a wider plan to deploy 75 such vehicles across Assam.
What Are the Video Vans?
The video vans are mobile units equipped to record video messages, suggestions, and grievances from citizens. BJP leaders said the collected inputs will be used during the drafting of the party’s election manifesto.
Party officials stated that the initiative is aimed at direct citizen engagement, allowing residents to voice their expectations for the next state government.
Focus on Guwahati Zone
Out of the 75 video vans planned across Assam, 21 have been allocated exclusively to the Guwahati zone, underlining the city’s political and electoral importance.
The remaining vans have already been prepared and will be rolled out district-wise across the state in the coming days.
Leaders Present at the Launch
Apart from the Chief Minister and the state BJP president, the launch event at Khanapara was attended by:
- Baijayant Jay Panda, BJP’s Assembly election in-charge
- Pradan Baruah, Lok Sabha MP
Senior party workers and local BJP leaders from Guwahati were also present during the flag-off ceremony.
How the Outreach Will Work
According to BJP officials:
- The vans will move across residential areas, markets, and public spaces
- Citizens can record their views on local issues, governance, infrastructure, and welfare schemes
- The collected feedback will be compiled and reviewed by the party’s manifesto committee
The party said the process is intended to ensure that the manifesto reflects ground-level concerns, especially from urban voters in Guwahati.
Why Guwahati Matters
As Assam’s largest city and administrative hub, Guwahati plays a decisive role in shaping political narratives. With multiple Assembly constituencies and a diverse urban electorate, feedback from the city is considered crucial for any party’s election strategy.
Political observers note that the launch of the video vans from Guwahati signals the BJP’s intent to prioritise urban governance issues, including traffic, infrastructure, employment, and civic services.
What Happens Next
BJP leaders said:
- The video vans will operate daily across Guwahati and other districts
- Feedback collection will continue in the run-up to the manifesto finalisation
- Similar public engagement programmes may follow
No timeline has yet been announced for the completion of the feedback phase.
Why This Matters
The initiative highlights a shift toward technology-driven political outreach, allowing citizens to directly communicate with political parties. For Guwahati residents, it provides a platform to raise city-specific concerns that could influence policy commitments ahead of the Assembly elections.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many video vans have been launched in Guwahati?
A total of 21 video vans have been deployed specifically for the Guwahati zone.
What is the purpose of the BJP video vans?
The vans are being used to collect public suggestions and feedback for the BJP’s Assam Assembly election manifesto.
