The Election Commission of India on Sunday declared that voting for the Assam Legislative Assembly elections will take place on April 9, while the counting of ballots is scheduled for May 4. The announcement forms part of a broader election programme covering several states whose legislative terms are nearing completion. Authorities also confirmed that voting arrangements, logistics and security planning have been finalised to ensure smooth polling. Preparations have already begun in different districts, with election officials coordinating with local administrations to manage polling booths, voter lists and monitoring mechanisms ahead of the democratic exercise across the northeastern state.
Along with Assam, the poll schedule also applies to assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and the Union Territory of Puducherry, where legislative terms are set to conclude between May and June. Election authorities released detailed timelines, including phases of voting and measures related to law and order. Final electoral rolls for these regions have already been published following a Special Intensive Revision exercise aimed at updating voter data. Officials stated that the revision process ensures eligible voters are included while eliminating duplicate or outdated entries, thereby strengthening the credibility and accuracy of the electoral process.
With the announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has immediately come into effect across all the poll-bound regions. This framework restricts governments and political parties from announcing new welfare schemes, launching development programmes or making promises that could influence voters during the campaign period. The enforcement of these rules is intended to create a level playing field for all contesting parties. Election authorities have instructed state administrations to strictly follow the guidelines, while observers and monitoring teams will oversee compliance to prevent any misuse of government machinery or public resources during the campaign.
In Assam, the upcoming election is expected to witness an intense political contest. The state, often regarded as the gateway to India’s Northeast, will see Himanta Biswa Sarma seeking another term as Chief Minister. Meanwhile, the opposition led by the Indian National Congress is attempting to regain political ground after spending nearly a decade out of power. Campaign strategies from both sides are likely to focus on governance, development and regional concerns. Political observers believe the contest will play a significant role in shaping the political landscape of the northeastern region in the coming years.
The Assam Assembly continues to have 126 seats even after the delimitation exercise carried out in 2023, which revised constituency boundaries based on updated population figures. The forthcoming election will be the first to be conducted under the newly drawn electoral map. Polling in Assam is expected to occur in a single phase, unlike states such as West Bengal where voting may be spread across multiple phases. Authorities have already begun positioning central security forces in sensitive districts to ensure peaceful polling, while Election Commission-appointed observers will supervise arrangements in coordination with local officials.
Assam Assembly Elections 2021 Details:
During the previous assembly election held in 2021, voting took place in three phases across the state. The alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party and part of the National Democratic Alliance retained power with a comfortable majority in the 126-member house. The coalition secured 75 seats, surpassing the majority mark of 64 seats required to form the government. The BJP emerged as the largest party individually with around 33.2 percent of the total votes polled, consolidating its position as the dominant political force in the state’s electoral landscape.
Allied parties also contributed significantly to the coalition’s victory. The Asom Gana Parishad secured nearly 7.9 percent of the vote share, while the United People's Party Liberal obtained about 3.4 percent. Together, these parties helped the ruling alliance achieve an overall vote share close to 44.8 percent. On the other side, the opposition coalition led by the Congress, popularly known as the “Mahajot”, tried to challenge the ruling bloc but ultimately could not match its electoral strength across several constituencies.
The Congress itself received approximately 29.7 percent of the vote, while its ally All India United Democratic Front secured around 9.3 percent. Despite their combined efforts, the opposition alliance managed to win only 50 seats. The outcome was historically significant because it marked the first occasion in Assam’s political history when a non-Congress government returned to power for a second consecutive term. Following the victory, Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had earlier served as a senior Congress leader before joining the BJP in 2015, took oath as Chief Minister, succeeding Sarbananda Sonowal.
At present, the ruling alliance holds a dominant position in the assembly with 83 legislators. Within this tally, the BJP accounts for 64 seats, while the Asom Gana Parishad holds nine and the United People’s Party Liberal has seven. The Bodoland People's Front contributes three members to the ruling side. Meanwhile, the opposition occupies 42 seats in the house, including 26 members from the Congress, 15 from the All India United Democratic Front and one representative from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), along with an Independent legislator.