Assam Assembly Elections 2026: Check Out Key Candidates & Issues Defining Poll Battle

Last Updated:March 31, 2026, 17:16 IST

Assam votes April 9 for 126 seats, key candidates include Himanta Biswa Sarma and Gaurav Gogoi, key issues are immigration, floods, evictions, child marriage and Zubeen Garg case.

As you prepare to cast your votes in Assam Assembly elections on April 9, let us know about the candidates and the key issues that may impact the polls.

Assam will conduct polls for 126 constituencies in a single phase on April 9 with vote counting scheduled for May 4. Of the 126 Assembly seats, nine have been reserved for Schedule Castes and 19 for Scheduled Tribes.

A total of 31,486 polling stations in the state have been set up for the conduct of the polls.

Key Candidates To Watch Out For

Himanta Biswa Sarma

Gaurav Gogoi

Debabrata Saikia

Biswajit Daimary

Ripun Bora

Ajanta Neog

Atul Bora

Keshab Mahanta

Akhil Gogoi

Aminul Islam

Key Issues Impacting State Polls

Illegal Immigration

One of the key issues this election is the illegal migrants debate, where Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has opened a front against Bangladeshi muslims who migrated – legally and illegally – to Assam.

Floods & Erosion

The ruling BJP has sought to project flood control as part of its governance and infrastructure agenda, with leaders making fresh promises on tackling the issue. But the opposition is also trying to turn the flood crisis into a question of accountability: if governments have known for decades that Assam is vulnerable, why do embankments still fail, why are floodplains still occupied, and why are relief camps still a seasonal reality?

Eviction

The state government’s policy of evicting alleged encroachers will also be a major issue raised by both the ruling and opposition parties. The government’s eviction drives, aimed at clearing alleged encroachments on forest and government land, have become a defining feature of his administration. Defending the policy, Sarma has said eviction operations are conducted “as per law" and based on due process.

Crackdown On Child Marriage

Measures against child marriage leading to the arrest of many, and booking them under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act), will also be a significant issue in the upcoming polls.

Zubeen Garg’s Death

Another issue that grabbed headlines was popular singer Zubeen Garg’s death in Singapore in September 2025, and the subsequent demand for justice for those accused in his alleged murder.The opposition parties will allege that the BJP government is not keen to ensure justice for the singer, while the ruling dispensation will highlight that it constituted an SIT, arrested the accused and the matter is now in the court.

Development Projects/Welfare Schemes

Development initiatives in Assam, particularly infrastructure projects in roads, railways, airports and waterways, are also one of issues taken up by both the state government and the opposition. The BJP is banking on its initiatives in developing infrastructure, increasing connectivity, welfare schemes for women and other marginalised sections of society, improvement in healthcare and education, and positioning Assam as an economic gateway to Southeast Asia.

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