BJP wins Assam for a third consecutive term; Himanta calls it a historic win

The BJP first came to power in Assam in 2016, ending a 15-year Congress rule; the party had won 60 seats in both the 2016 and 2021 elections, forming governments with NDA allies, and now achieved an absolute majority on its own in 2026.

The 2023 delimitation exercise reduced Muslim-dominated seats from 35 to 22, a change cited by analysts as a factor in reducing vote-bank politics and influencing seat outcomes in Assam.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) was expected to win one seat, with Sherman Ali Ahmed, a former Congress MLA, leading in Mandia.

AGP winners included Atul Bora (Bokakhat) and Keshab Mahanta (Kaliabar). BPF winners were Sewli Mohilary (Kokrajhar) and Rihon Daimari (Udalguri). AIUDF, once a major player, managed only two seats (Dalgaon and Binnakandi), its lowest tally since 2005. UPPL failed to win any seat, a sharp drop from six seats in 2021.

Sarma retained the Jalukbari seat for the sixth consecutive term. Other BJP winners included Pijush Hazarika (Jagiroad), Ranoj Pegu (Dhemaji), Chandra Mohan Patowary (Tihu), Ranjeet Kumar Dass (Bhawanipur-Sorbhog), Ajanta Neog (Golaghat), Jayanta Malla Baruah (Nalbari), and Bimal Borah (Tingkhong). Congress turncoats Bhupen Kumar Borah and Pradyut Bordoloi, who joined the BJP just days before the election, won in Bihpuria and Dispur respectively.

Congress contested as a unified opposition of six parties and won 19 seats, ten fewer than in 2021. Raijor Dal, allied with Congress, won two seats, bringing their combined tally to 21.

Kaustubh Deka, professor of political science at Dibrugarh University, said the massive win validates the BJP’s approach of creating beneficiaries through schemes and using identity politics. He also noted that the 2023 delimitation exercise, which redrew seats, could influence outcomes in other BJP-ruled states.

BJP state president Dilip Saikia said the results were on expected lines and that BJP had secured an absolute majority on its own, while indicating that the party would continue to work with NDA allies like in the past.

Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the results as a historic win and said the formation of the next government would follow due process, with the present government resigning and a new leader of the legislative party elected. He added that the state BJP president would discuss formalities with the party high command before staking a claim to form the next government and deciding on a swearing-in date.

According to the Election Commission of India website at 7pm, the BJP won 69 seats out of 90 it contested and was leading in 13. Its allies, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF), were winning and leading in 10 seats each, taking the combined tally to 102. BJP’s vote share was about 40%, while Congress stood at 29%.