Election Despatch: Who is winning Assam's narrative battle?

In this special ground report from Assam, India Today explores the shifting political landscape and who is winning the narrative battle ahead of the assembly elections. The report begins with a nostalgic tribute to the late cultural icon Zubeen Garg, featuring a previously recorded interview where he described himself as a 'socialist' who stayed away from 'dirty politics'. The narrative then shifts to the current electoral dynamics, highlighting the significant impact of the 2023 delimitation exercise, which analysts suggest has reduced Muslim electoral influence in several seats. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's 'beneficiary politics' through schemes like Orunodoi and his polarising rhetoric against 'Miyas' (immigrant Muslims) are central themes. The report features insights from Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, who accuses the BJP of hypocrisy regarding illegal immigration and double standards in their dealings with AIUDF. Additionally, former Congress heavyweight Pradyut Bordoloi, now contesting on a BJP ticket, discusses his 'painful decision' to switch sides, citing the Congress party's alleged neglect of indigenous Assamese interests.