With Assam completing largely peaceful single-phase Assembly polling on 9 April 2026, attention has now turned to the outcome of the high-stakes contest for the 126-member Legislative Assembly. Voter turnout touched an all-time high of 85.96 percent, prompting both ruling and opposition alliances to claim victory even as the fate of 722 candidates, including nominees of major parties and independents, remains sealed in electronic voting machines.
Counting of votes will take place on 4 May, as announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The counting day will also decide results for Assembly elections in Kerala and Puducherry, along with by-elections in Karnataka’s Bagalkot and Davanagere South, Nagaland’s Koridang, and Tripura’s Dharmanagar. Results of the Tamil Nadu Assembly election scheduled for 23 April and the two-phase West Bengal Assembly elections (23 and 29 April) will also be declared the same day.
In the 2021 Assam polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led alliance comfortably crossed the majority mark of 64 seats, winning 75 seats to form the government in Dispur for a second consecutive term. This time, BJP leaders are projecting an even stronger mandate.
Addressing election rallies in north Bengal recently, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that the BJP-led alliance would secure decisive victories in both Assam and West Bengal. Sarma predicted wins in nearly 100 seats in Assam and about 200 seats in the 294-member West Bengal Assembly. BJP Assam president Dilip Saikia also expressed confidence of a commanding mandate for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Terming the high turnout as pro-incumbency, leaders of BJP allies—the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF)—estimated that the NDA could win over 90 seats. In contrast, the Indian National Congress-led opposition alliance has claimed it will secure more than 70 seats, enabling its return to power after a decade.
Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi described the unprecedented turnout as a vote for change, citing anti-incumbency against the BJP government, alleged harassment of religious minorities, and corruption allegations against Chief Minister Sarma and his family. Gogoi, who is also the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, sharpened his attack after Congress leader Pawan Khera made sensational allegations against Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, on 5 April.
At separate press conferences in New Delhi and Guwahati, Khera alleged that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma held multiple active foreign passports and had undisclosed overseas investments worth millions of dollars. Gogoi claimed that following these allegations, Sarma appeared rattled and resorted to abusive public remarks.
Both Sarma and his wife have categorically denied the charges and initiated legal action, filing cases alleging forgery and conspiracy. Khera, meanwhile, approached the Telangana High Court and obtained interim transit anticipatory bail, which was subsequently stayed by the Supreme Court of India, directing him to seek relief from an appropriate court in Assam.
Chief Minister Sarma later questioned the Assam Police for allowing Khera to leave Guwahati after an FIR had been registered, stating that senior police officials would be held accountable upon his return to the Chief Minister’s Office. Escalating the issue further, Sarma announced his intention to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the ECI, questioning the timing of the allegations—just four days before polling—and alleging an attempt to influence electoral outcomes.
A law graduate himself, Sarma argued that deliberate dissemination of false information close to polling dates should invite strict action, including cancellation of party registration. His remarks, however, drew sharp criticism from opposition leaders.
Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia condemned Sarma’s comments as an attack on constitutional institutions, accusing the Chief Minister of arrogance and misuse of power. Political observers noted that Sarma’s proposed PIL against the ECI has provided fresh ammunition to the national opposition, especially amid a renewed debate over the Election Commission following an impeachment motion moved by over 190 parliamentarians against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.