Guwahati, May 4
The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) surged ahead in Assam’s assembly election count on Monday, leading in a majority of seats as early trends from over 98 constituencies pointed to a strong performance by the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies, according to reports. The PTI quoting the Election Commission of India said that so far trends were available for 114 of the state’s 126 constituencies, with the BJP ahead in 71 seats. Its alliance partners — the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bodoland Peoples’ Front (BPF) — were leading in seven and nine seats respectively, consolidating the NDA’s overall advantage. The opposition Indian National Congress was leading in 21 seats, while its allies — the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and Raijor Dal — were ahead in one constituency each. The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) was leading in two seats, while smaller parties such as the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha were ahead in one seat each.
In key contests, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was leading in Jalukbari, underscoring the BJP’s strong position. However, state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi was trailing behind his BJP rival in Jorhat. Among regional players, AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi was leading in Khowang, while Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi was ahead in Sibsagar, a constituency he had represented as an independent in the outgoing assembly.
Senior leaders of the AGP, including party president Atul Bora and working president Keshab Mahanta — both ministers in the Sarma cabinet — were leading in Bokakhat and Kaliabor, respectively.
Several prominent leaders who switched from the Congress to the BJP ahead of the polls were also ahead, including Pradyut Bordoloi in Dispur and Bhupen Borah in Bihpuria.
Other ministers such as Ranoj Pegu (Dhemaji), Pijush Hazarika (Jagiroad), Ashok Singhal (Dhekiajuli), Prashanta Phukan (Dibrugarh) and Bimal Borah (Tingkhong) had also established leads in their respective constituencies.
Counting of votes began at 08:00 local time, with postal ballots taken up first. Officials said counting was being conducted at 40 centres across 35 districts. While most districts have a single counting centre, Nagaon has three, and Kokrajhar, Tinsukia and Jorhat have two each.
Polling for all 126 constituencies was held in a single phase on 9 April, with a record turnout of 85.96% among nearly 25 million eligible voters. Trends for several constituencies were still awaited as counting continued.
