Dibrugarh: Flood and erosion have emerged as the central issues in Dibrugarh ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections, with residents demanding a long-term and scientific solution to a problem that has persisted for decades.
One of Assam’s oldest urban centres, Dibrugarh has been steadily losing landmass due to erosion by the Brahmaputra river, which locals say is inching closer to the town each year.
“This year, flood and erosion will be the main issue of the polls. Continuous erosion near Dibrugarh town is a major concern, and people are urging the government for a permanent solution,” said Ranjan Sharma, a resident.
He added that voters expect the next government to prioritise the long-standing issue. “We want whichever government comes to power to address this decades-old problem and resolve it permanently,” he said.
Over the years, multiple preventive measures have been undertaken, including the construction of dykes, stone and timber spurs, a 10-km-long embankment from Maijan Mothola to Mohanaghat and Bogibeel, and a 22-km drainage network across the town. However, residents say these efforts have provided only temporary relief.
The situation has worsened in Maijan, where erosion has intensified since last year. Fresh erosion reported from Saturday has heightened anxiety among locals.
“Erosion has been ongoing since yesterday. The Water Resources Department has started using geo-bags, but these are temporary measures. Governments have come and gone, but the core issue remains unaddressed,” said Raju Chetri, a resident of Maijan.
“We need a permanent, scientific solution to this perennial problem,” he said, adding that current measures have been inadequate.
Despite multiple local concerns, flood and erosion continue to dominate the electoral narrative in Dibrugarh during every election cycle.
Politically, Dibrugarh has witnessed a shift over the years. Once considered a Congress stronghold, the seat has been held by the Bharatiya Janata Party since 2006, when the sitting MLA Prasanta Phukan defeated Congress candidate Kalyan Kumar Gogoi. Phukan has retained the seat in successive elections.
This time, the Congress has not fielded a candidate, leaving the contest to its alliance partner, the Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP). AJP candidate Manik Patra is set to challenge Phukan in what is expected to be a closely watched contest.
Observers note that Patra’s candidature could alter electoral dynamics. “He has been fielded to consolidate Bengali votes, which are considered a deciding factor in Dibrugarh. This is the first time a Bengali candidate has been fielded from the seat,” said a political analyst.