Guwahati: BJP’s decision to introduce fresh faces by dropping 21 sitting MLAs paid off as the party won a third consecutive assembly election.Of the 90 candidates fielded by the BJP, 16 were first-time contenders. The list included six old party hands, including three serving state general secretaries who have worked for the organisation for decades,…
Guwahati: Assam’s assembly contests have traditionally been a straight fight between the BJP and Congress. But this time the Trinamool Congress (TMC) stood out, winning a Bangladesh-origin Muslim majority seat in Barpeta district at Congress’s expense.Sherman Ali Ahmed, contesting for the Mamata Banerjee-led party, captured the Mandia seat, defeating Congress candidate Abdul Khaleque. This marks…
Guwahati: Badruddin Ajmal had projected himself as the messiah of Muslims in Assam and his party, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), the saviour. But the effect seems to be on the wane. The saffron sweep in Assam has nearly wiped out the AIUDF, which represented Muslim minorities in lower Assam and Barak Valley…
Guwahati: Voter turnout crossing the 90% mark in Muslim-majority assembly constituencies of lower Assam reshaped the political outcome of the region, benefiting Congress far more than Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), which was once positioned as the principal voice of the minority community in state politics.The electoral dividend did not accrue to…
Guwahati: Congress will walk into Assam’s new assembly with 19 lawmakers, 18 of them Muslims and just one Hindu, in what appears to be a new trend of Muslim voters opting for the grand old party instead of a regional group this year.In the house of 126 members, the opposition bench will have 24 members,…
Guwahati: Growing up, Gaurav Gogoi saw his father Tarun Gogoi lead Congress to a three-peat in Assam. On Monday, that must be a distant memory as he witnessed Himanta Biswa Sarma and BJP repeat a similar feat, pushing Congress to near oblivion.As for Gaurav, the deputy leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha on whom…
GUWAHATI: With the state awaiting results of the assembly polls on Monday, a clear sentiment is emerging among its residents — development must take precedence over petty political rhetoric. While govts often emphasize development, citizens note that although some initiatives are long-term and impactful, others fall short.Arshel Akhtar, who’s associated with an NGO, said, “The…
Guwahati/Dibrugarh: Kamrup (Metropolitan) district administration has said shops, educational institutions and public transport services will continue normally, even as residents eagerly await one of the most anticipated moments in the electoral calendar.Despite the heightened political atmosphere, district administration has clarified that there will be no general shutdown across the city and minimal disruption to daily…
Dibrugarh: While fate of the six Dibrugarh assembly seats — Dibrugarh, Chabua-Lahowal, Duliajan, Tingkhong, Naharkatia and Khowang — will be decided on Monday, the district administration has enforced a prohibitory order, under Section 163 of the BNSS, 2023, earmarking a 100m area around the counting centre at Lahowal’s Polytechnic campus, barring public gathering and car…
Guwahati: With just hours to go before the counting of votes, this Sunday unfolded as one of quiet faith and political anticipation, with many candidates turning to the divine, seeking blessings ahead of the verdict.CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, who remained busy in the campaign for BJP candidates in West Bengal after the conclusion of the…
