Sun Nov 23 21:03:27 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:

Assam BJP Claims Stronger Indigenous Presence After Delimitation, Continues Focus on “Miya” Community

Guwahati, India – November 24, 2025 – The Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asserted on Sunday that the 2023 delimitation exercise has resulted in a stronger “indigenous presence” in 103 of Assam’s 126 Assembly constituencies, a marked improvement compared to five years prior. The party attributes this positive shift to the delimitation process and the advancements made under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in protecting the political and land rights of indigenous communities.

According to a BJP statement, the delimitation has ensured that more constituencies now reflect a stronger indigenous demographic, representing a significant step towards securing long-standing political safeguards.

Chief Minister Sarma, however, also highlighted that Bengali Muslims remain a majority in the remaining 23 constituencies. He reiterated his stance on the “Miya” community, a pejorative term used in Assam to refer to Muslims with roots in present-day Bangladesh, stating that he would continue to “pester” them. He further emphasized the continuation of eviction drives and efforts to stop polygamy.

The BJP claims that approximately 150,000 bighas (approximately 49,500 acres) of land belonging to Vaishnavite monasteries (satras), forests, and tribal communities have been reclaimed through these eviction drives, which have largely impacted the Bengali Muslim population.

Muslims are considered a significant electoral force in 35 of Assam’s Assembly seats. The 2021 State elections saw 31 Muslim representatives elected, with 16 from Congress and 15 from the All India United Democratic Front.

While some have voiced concerns about a potential Muslim takeover in Assam’s constituencies, data suggests that the number of Muslim representatives in the Assembly has averaged around 25, with a notable exception in the controversial 1983 election. This narrative gained momentum after the 1978 elections when 27 Muslims were elected, a rise from 21 in 1972. This contributed to the Assam Agitation, which linked “illegal immigrants” with “Bangladeshis,” primarily Muslims.

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