The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) or “Mitrajot” (Alliance of Friends) is set to form the government in Assam for the second consecutive time, as the ruling alliance according to the latest trends is likely to win 74 seats in the 126-member Assembly. The Congress-led “Mahajot” (Grand Alliance) is expected to win 50 seats.
The Election Commission (EC) is yet to declare the final result on any of the 126 seats as the counting of votes is still in progress in 34 districts across the northeastern state.
All important candidates of the BJP, including Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who was seeking re-election from Majuli Assembly constituency in eastern Assam, state Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma from Jalukbari Assembly constituency and state BJP President Ranjeet Kumar Dass from Patacharkuchi Assembly constituency, won from their respective seats.
The Congress is leading in 29 seats while its partners All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) is leading in 14 seats, Bodoland Peoples’ Front (BPF) and the CPI-M in one seat each. Raijor Dal (RD) President and jailed leader, Akhil Gogoi, who is contesting from Sibasagar constituency as an independent candidate, is also leading.
Although there was no doubt that the ruling BJP-led alliance in Assam will form the government, there was little clarity about the next chief minister in the state, with Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma adding to the mystery by declaring only that the next CM would be from the BJP, without naming Sarbananda Sonowal, the CM of the outgoing government. The party, which fought in alliance with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United People’s Party Liberal, had originally claimed it would win 100 seats. But the BJP chief in the state, Ranjeet Das, claimed hours before the result that the BJP would win 83 seats. The party could fall short of this figure as it is currently well ahead in 78 of the state’s 126 Assembly constituencies.
