ASSAM ELECTION 2021

The 126-seat assembly is scheduled to go to polls in six phases starting from March 27, 2021. The remaining two phases will be held on April 1 and April 6. The results of the polls would be announced on May 2. Assam is currently ruled by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) which is supported by the regional parties Asom Gana Parishad (ASP) and Bodoland People's Front (BPF). The ASP and the BPF are part of a regional alliance called the North-East Regional Political Front (NERPF) which had extended support to the BJP ahead of the 2016 assembly elections. Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal hopes to consolidate BJP in a state which was traditionally a Congress stronghold and is crucial to any party’s hold on the Northeast. In the 2016 assembly elections, BJP registered an unexpected victory in Assam by winning 60 seats. The AGP won 14 and the BPF won 12 seats. The Congress badly defeated could win only 26 seats compared to 76 seats in the 2011 assembly elections. However, Congress still lead in the vote share segment at 31% while BJP’s vote share in 2016 was 29.5% but still higher than its 2011 vote share of 11.5%. While BJP is hoping that CM Sonowal's non-controversial image and development initiatives will help retain the state, Congress is going to miss its tall late leader Tarun Gogoi, on whom the Centre has conferred a Padma Bhushan. Congress’ alliance with Badruddin Ajmal's AIUDF can prevent the division of Muslim votes which can pose BJP with a strong demographic challenge. After Bihar, West Bengal, along with Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, would be holding elections under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic. The Election Commission of India has released a series of Covid guidelines for the poll process. Door-to-door campaigning has been restricted to five people. The roadshows too have been restricted to a maximum of five vehicles. All the election officials will be vaccinated beforehand. The timing of the voting has been extended by an hour to accommodate the delay caused by Covid-19 guidelines. Assam Election Schedule 2021