“No Votes, No Development?” Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha’s comment contradicts “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikash.”

Just a day after the results of the Assam Assembly Election 2026, BJP MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha appears to go against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” by stating that development in areas, particularly Muslim-majority localities, would depend on the number of votes his party receives from those regions.

Addressing a public meeting at the Katigorah Mandal BJP office on Tuesday, May 5, the MLA said that areas which gave higher votes to the BJP would receive more development work, while those that did not support the party would see limited benefits. He also alleged that some voters prioritised religious considerations during elections, referring to concerns about “Jannat” influencing voting behaviour.

The remarks came shortly after the results of the May 4 vote count, following polling held on April 9. In the constituency, Purkayastha secured 1,10,758 votes and won by a margin of 37,680 votes.

During his speech, the MLA cited examples of polling centres where the BJP received very few votes despite government schemes such as Orunodoi Scheme being implemented. He questioned why benefits should continue in such areas if electoral support was not forthcoming, and indicated that future development decisions could be influenced by voting patterns.

The remarks raise constitutional concerns regarding the distribution of public welfare and development. Legal experts point out that Article 14 of the Constitution of India guarantees equality before the law, while Article 15 prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. Welfare schemes and public resources are intended to be allocated without bias, irrespective of voting behaviour.

The statement also appears inconsistent with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stated vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas”, which emphasises inclusive development for all sections of society regardless of political preference.

It should be noted that Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha was previously a vocal leader from Congress with a prominent opposition voice in Assam, often speaking on issues of inclusivity and equality while taking regular jabs at the BJP and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Around two years ago, he resigned from the Congress, not long after facing a raid by the Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell. Following his exit, he alleged that much of his earlier criticism of the BJP government had been scripted by Bhupen Borah, then president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, who has also recently joined the BJP.