Guwahati: With the Election Commission announcing Assam’s 2026 Assembly polls, Congress president Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday said he is confident voters will uproot the BJP-led government and bring in a Congress administration that will build a “new Assam.”
In an interaction with media, Gogoi accused the current government under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of corruption and said Congress would focus on development while ensuring citizens’ rights are protected.
“I am certain that Assam’s people will give Congress a full majority on April 9. Our goal is to build a stronger state where everyone benefits from progress and can live with their rights safeguarded,” Gogoi said.
The Election Commission had announced a day earlier that all 126 Assembly seats will go to polls in a single phase on April 9, with counting scheduled for May 4. The Model Code of Conduct is now in effect across all election-bound areas.
The upcoming election will see the BJP-led NDA, currently in power, competing with the Congress across all constituencies. The ruling party, led by CM Sarma, is aiming for a third term, while Congress seeks to return to power.
As part of its campaign, the BJP launched the “Jan Ashirwad Yatra” to connect with voters, with CM Sarma participating actively. During the first leg, he reportedly traveled 1,200 km, spending up to 14 hours daily engaging with the public.
Meanwhile, Congress unveiled 23 more candidates, bringing its total to 65 out of 126 seats. The party said 15 constituencies, including Bhowanipur-Sorbhoog, Bajali, Palasbari, Guwahati Central, Goreswar, Morigaon, and Barhampur, will be allocated to alliance partners.
In 2021, the NDA, consisting of the BJP, AGP, and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), won 75 seats, with the BJP securing 60 on its own. Voter turnout was impressive at 86.2%, with over 2.2 crore registered voters.
In the 2016 Assembly elections, BJP had won 60 seats, Congress 26, and AIDUF 13. Out of nearly 2 crore eligible voters, 83.9% cast their votes across all 126 constituencies.