Guwahati: The assembly election revealed sharp regional contrasts that explain how the BJP secured its first solo majority.In the nine districts of lower Assam (excluding the Bodoland Territorial Council) having 33 seats, BJP won 16, while Congress managed 11, AGP five, and the TMC made a symbolic entry with one seat in Mandia, reflecting the…
Guwahati: It is Rongali Bihu once again in Assam, and celebrations began right from morning onwards on Monday at the state BJP headquarters in the Basistha area here after early trends showed party candidates leading in most constituencies. Party workers described the BJP’s victory as unprecedented in Assam’s history.With spirited party workers dancing to the…
Guwahati: Redrawn constituency boundaries in Assam reduced the number of Muslim-majority seats from 35 to 22, reshaping traditional Muslim voter strongholds and influencing the outcome of the first assembly election held after the 2023 delimitation exercise.While the total number of assembly seats remained unchanged at 126, the delimitation had a clear effect on representation, keeping…
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…
