The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) crossed the majority mark in Assam on Monday, putting the BJP-led alliance firmly on course to form the government for a third consecutive term, even as final results were still being compiled.
According to trends and declared results by the Election Commission of India, the NDA has already secured or is leading in 70 seats in the 126-member Assembly, comfortably above the halfway mark of 64.
The Bharatiya Janata Party remains the principal driver of the alliance’s performance, having won 58 seats so far. Its allies - Bodoland People’s Front and Asom Gana Parishad - have added seven and five seats respectively, strengthening the NDA’s position.
The Opposition failed to put up a cohesive fight, with the Indian National Congress unlikely to cross the 20-seat mark. As per the latest figures, the party has won 18 seats, while other regional players remain limited to scattered gains. Around 1.29 per cent of voters opted for NOTA.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma registered a commanding victory from Jalukbari, securing 1,27,151 votes and defeating Congress candidate Bidisha Neog by a margin of 89,434 votes. The win marks his sixth consecutive victory from the constituency.
Meanwhile, All India United Democratic Front chief Badruddin Ajmal won from Binnakandi, defeating Assam Jatiya Parishad’s Rejaul Karim Choudhury by 35,380 votes.
A major political setback emerged from Jorhat, where Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi suffered his first electoral defeat, losing to senior BJP leader Hitendranath Goswami by 23,182 votes. Gogoi secured 46,257 votes, while Goswami polled 69,439 votes to retain the seat for a third consecutive term.
The defeat is significant as Gogoi, a three-time Member of Parliament, had entered the Assembly contest after his victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Jorhat. His move was seen as an attempt to revive the Congress’s prospects in the State and follow the political path of his father, former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
NDA Credits Governance As Key Factor
Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia said the mandate reflects public trust in the development agenda pursued under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sarma.
“Our responsibility has increased. In the next five years, we will focus on development and good governance,” he said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah described the outcome as a “historic mandate,” saying it underscores continued faith in the NDA’s “double engine” governance model.
With counting nearing completion and the NDA already past the majority mark, the alliance is poised to retain Assam, although formal declaration of all results is awaited. |
