Assam went to the polls yesterday, April 9, 2026, and voters came out in big numbers. From the flat plains of Brahmaputra's flood belt to the tea gardens of upper Assam, long queues were visible at booths by early morning. By evening, the numbers told a story of high democratic participation — and high political stakes.
Legislative assembly elections were held in Assam on April 9, 2026 to elect 126 members of the Assam Legislative Assembly. Results will be declared on May 4, 2026. The tenure of the current assembly is scheduled to end on May 20, 2026.
Turnout Tells a Story
By 11 am, turnout had already reached 38.92% in Assam, with long queues at booths across all districts. By the close of polling, the picture was striking: minority-dominated constituencies had crossed 90% turnout, while the overall state figure landed at 85.51%, one of the highest in recent Assam election history. Women voters, at 85.96%, actually turned out in slightly higher numbers than men at 84.80%.
According to the Election Commission, 2,49,58,139 voters were eligible to vote in the assembly elections in Assam. A total of 722 candidates were in the fray across 126 constituencies, making this the largest single-day state election in India this cycle.
BJP vs Congress: The Core Battle
The ruling BJP is seeking a third consecutive term, while the Congress aims to regain power after 2016. The single-phase election started at 7 am and continued until 5 pm, with long queues of voters reported outside polling stations from early morning.
After the 2021 election, the incumbent National Democratic Alliance formed the state government again after winning 75 out of 126 seats, with Himanta Biswa Sarma becoming Chief Minister.
Sarma has been a polarising but dominant figure in Assam politics since 2021. He has pushed a muscular Hindu nationalist agenda in the state — shutting down "illegal" madrasas, conducting evictions of encroachers from forest land (which his critics say disproportionately targeted Muslim communities), and positioning himself as the BJP's most aggressive northeast face.
Congress, led in Assam by Debabrata Saikia as opposition leader, has tried to build a broad alliance. The BJP did not field any Muslim candidate in Assam, where the community constitutes more than 34 percent of the state's population. This was a deliberate signal — and a calculated political risk.
The AIUDF Factor and Regional Dynamics
Badruddin Ajmal's All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), which represents a section of the Muslim electorate, fielded 27 candidates this time. The battle in constituencies along the Brahmaputra valley, where Muslim-majority belt seats are concentrated, could determine the final margin.
The BJP's Assam election manifesto, Sankalp Patra, includes 31 promises. The Congress announced a Guarantee for Assam covering financial aid, health cover, and land rights.
Raijor Dal, AJP, and UPPL are the other regional forces in play. The UPPL, which governs the Bodoland Territorial Council, is a BJP ally and fielded 17 candidates total. Its votes in the Bodoland region could be crucial to the NDA's seat tally.
What Issues Actually Moved Voters
Talk to voters in Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Nagaon, or Silchar and a few themes keep coming up: employment, flooding, price rise, and the NRC/citizenship anxiety that has hung over Assam like a cloud since 2019.
The BJP in Assam has consciously tried to move the conversation from NRC (where the 2019 final list excluded 19 lakh people, creating chaos) to development — roads, electricity, industry. Himanta Biswa Sarma has also talked constantly about "outsiders" and demographic change, which resonates deeply with indigenous Assamese communities worried about their cultural and linguistic identity.
Congress has tried to counter with economic promises and a softer line on citizenship. Whether that is enough, we will know on May 4.
A BJP-led alliance is expected to retain power in Assam, according to the public opinion platform Vote Vibe. In its campaign, the right-wing BJP targeted millions of mainly Bengali-origin Muslims who migrated to Assam during British rule from East Bengal.
PM Modi appealed to voters on polling day, urging "youth and women to participate enthusiastically and make this election a celebration of democracy and public duty."
Results: May 4, 2026.