Eye on 2026 polls, Assam BJP forms core committee

With an eye on the crucial 2026 Assembly elections, the Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced an 18-member core committee.

The list was announced ahead of Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the State on Thursday (August 28, 2025) to review the party’s preparations for the State polls less than a year away.

“The committee was formed with the approval of the party’s national president, J.P. Naddaji,” Lok Sabha member and State BJP president Dilip Saikia said.

Mr. Saikia tops the list, followed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, his predecessor and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. The other key members are Union Minister Pabitra Margherita, national secretary Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, State Ministers Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Ashok Singhal, and Ranoj Pegu.

Former State BJP president Bhabesh Kalita and former MP Rajdeep Roy are also part of the committee.

“The committee’s focus will be on formulating strategy, coordination among its units, and mobilising grassroots workers to strengthen the party’s base,” a party spokesperson said.

The BJP aims to secure a third consecutive term by increasing its seat tally from 60 in the 2021 polls. The party won an identical number of seats in 2016.

The BJP currently has 64 MLAs in the 126-member House. The party added four seats through by-elections.

The BJP’s coalition partners in the State are the Asom Gana Parishad with eight MLAs and the United People’s Party Liberal with seven.