NDA could win 106 of 126 seats in Assam polls, says Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday projected a sweeping victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming Assam assembly elections, claiming the ruling coalition could win as many as 106 of the state’s 126 seats. The elections are scheduled to be held later this year.

Speaking to reporters, Sarma said discussions on seat-sharing with NDA allies were largely complete and that the arrangement would closely mirror the formula used in the previous assembly elections, with only minor adjustments. “The state party president has already held talks with our ally, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). We are in a position to share seats without any difficulty. The structure will be largely similar to last time, with a few small changes,” he said.

The chief minister added that while initial negotiations with alliance partners had concluded, the final list of constituencies would be prepared only after the BJP’s central leadership convenes a meeting. He clarified that the final decision on seat-sharing would be taken following consultations with Union home minister Amit Shah, underlining the importance of coordination between the state unit and the party’s national leadership.

The NDA first came to power in Assam in 2016, marking the BJP’s emergence as a dominant political force in the state. In that election, the alliance won 86 seats, with the BJP securing 60, AGP 14, and the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) 12. The Congress won 26 seats, while the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) secured 13.

In the 2021 assembly elections, the BJP retained its tally of 60 seats, but the performance of its allies weakened. AGP’s seat count fell to nine, and the BPF was reduced to just four seats before eventually exiting the alliance. Despite this, the NDA managed to form the government with a combined strength of 75 seats. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), however, significantly improved its performance, winning 50 seats and mounting a stronger challenge than in 2016.

Sarma, who took over as chief minister from Sarbananda Sonowal in 2021, has previously acknowledged electoral limitations in certain constituencies. In December, he said the BJP was unlikely to win in around 22 Muslim-majority seats, adding that this was why the party had set an ambitious target of crossing the 100-seat mark overall.

The AGP, a key NDA ally, has earlier hinted at the possibility of “friendly fights” with the BJP in a few constituencies. Responding to such remarks, Sarma reiterated that AGP was an independent party free to take its own decisions. “We do not interfere in their internal matters. But alliance politics requires proper discussion and clear agreements,” he said.

On Saturday, the chief minister sought to downplay any friction, stating that leaders of both parties had since held detailed discussions and that differences, if any, would be resolved through dialogue. With seat-sharing talks nearing completion and the NDA projecting confidence, the coming months are expected to see an intensification of political activity in Assam as parties gear up for a high-stakes electoral battle.