Electoral Promises and Voter Preferences in Assam: Freebies vs. Issue-Based Commitments

Abstract

This study employs the Assam assembly elections of 2016 and 2021 as benchmarks to examine voter preferences for freebies in comparison to issue-based pledges. This study's main research questions are how much do freebie promises affect the voters of Assam's preferences compared to issue based commitments and what do voters of Assam prefer when it comes to choosing between welfare and development commitments and promises of freebies? Based on these questions, the study proposes an argument that long-term developmental promises are more important to the voters of Assam than freebie promises, which stimulate short-term voter interest. This study utilises surveys with a structured questionnaire as its major data collection method.  Based on population and urban-rural classification, information was gathered from 400 respondents in four districts of Assam namely Kamrup (M), Nagaon, Sonitpur, and Dhubri.  The results demonstrate that although voters give governance-related concerns like healthcare, education, the economy, and illegal immigration top priority, they also clearly favour welfare-oriented giveaways that provide long-term advantages over immediate handouts.  This study advances our knowledge of voter reasoning and decision-making in Assam's electoral democracy by examining these processes.