Political Temperature Rises in Assam Ahead of 2026 Assembly Elections
The political landscape in Assam has become increasingly charged as the state prepares for crucial assembly elections scheduled for 2026. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition Congress have intensified their verbal sparring, with both parties claiming they will secure a decisive victory in the upcoming electoral battle.
Congress Alleges BJP Manipulating Electoral Process
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has launched a sharp attack on the ruling BJP, predicting the party's defeat in the 2026 state elections. Speaking to reporters in Dhubri, Gogoi made controversial remarks suggesting that the BJP's chances depend on voters from outside Assam.
"BJP is heading for defeat in 2026 if only Assamese people vote; we urge people to stay alert so no voters from UP and Bihar can vote," Gogoi stated, escalating the political rhetoric.
The Congress leader specifically targeted the 2023 delimitation exercise, alleging that it was conducted in a manner that "only benefited the BJP." He further claimed that the ruling party is now introducing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) because they fear losing seats in the upcoming elections.
The delimitation process, completed in 2023, resulted in significant changes to seat distribution while maintaining the total assembly strength at 126 seats. The exercise increased Scheduled Caste seats from eight to nine and Scheduled Tribe seats from 16 to 19. However, reports indicate that Muslim-dominated seats have decreased substantially from 30 to 22 under the new electoral map that will be used in the 2026 elections.
Chief Minister's Fiery Counterattack
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma responded with equal vigor during a rally in Nalbari, delivering a blistering counterattack against Gogoi. The BJP leader made the extraordinary claim that the Congress MP should "go to Pakistan" to contest elections after what he predicted would be Gogoi's certain defeat in Assam.
"He will hundred per cent lose the polls in Assam, and then he can contest the elections in Pakistan," Sarma declared, responding to Gogoi's earlier comments about the political climate in the state.
The Chief Minister expressed absolute confidence in his party's prospects, asserting that "Assam is Assam and we will make a clean sweep in the assembly elections." He also accused the Congress of exploiting the death of popular singer Zubeen Garg for political purposes and alleged the opposition party was trying to protect the 'Miyas' community, whom he accused of encroaching on acres of land across the state.
In a significant development, Sarma announced that the government will introduce the anti-polygamy bill in the upcoming assembly session in November, adding another dimension to the pre-election political discourse.
Election Commission Steps In With Special Revision
Amidst the political crossfire, the Election Commission has ordered a Special Revision of Assam's electoral rolls in preparation for the 2026 elections. Chief Minister Sarma welcomed this development, stating that the exercise would help identify and remove ineligible voters from the electoral process.
Sarma highlighted that the state's National Register of Citizens (NRC) has not been officially notified "due to various legacy issues," which led to the deferment of the Special Intensive Revision. However, with the Election Commission now ordering a Special Revision, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that "this will help us weed out the illegal voters from our electoral process."
According to EC guidelines issued to the state's chief electoral officer, January 1, 2026, has been set as the qualifying date for the Special Revision. Officials described this drive as positioned between the usual annual summary revision and a full Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
The political battle lines are clearly drawn in Assam, with both major parties preparing for what promises to be a fiercely contested election in 2026. The issues of delimitation, voter eligibility, and now the anti-polygamy bill have set the stage for an intense political confrontation that will determine the future leadership of this strategically important northeastern state.
