Assam is witnessing a high-octane political battle as the state gears up for the 2026 assembly elections. The ruling BJP-led alliance led by Himanta Biswa Sarma is hoping for an electoral comeback. Opposition parties, including the Congress, hope to return to power.
Over the last 15 years, the state has witnessed dramatic political changes, especially in 2011 when the BJP won the northeastern state for the first time.
From the ouster of the Congress and the exit of Tarun Gogoi to the replacement of Sarbananda Sonwal by Himanta Sarma, the state has witnessed several political upheavals.
Here’s a look at how voting trends have changed since 2011.
2011: In the 2011 Legislative Assembly elections, the Congress secured a landslide victory in Assam. The party won 78 out of 126 mandates. The victory enabled Tarun Gogoi to secure a third term as chief minister. The party got 54,43,781 votes or 39.39% of the total.
The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) won 18 seats and 17,374,015 votes (12.57%).
Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) won 12 seats with 8,47,520 votes or 6.13% of the total.
Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) won 10 seats with 22,51,935 votes or 16.29% of the total.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won five seats with 15,84,895 votes or 11.47% of the total.
Independent candidates won two seats with 12,67,925 votes or 9.17% of the total.
The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) won one seat with 2,83,683 votes or 2.05% of the total.
Voter turnout in 2011 was approximately 76%, with 1,81,88,269 people voting in the elections.
2016: The 2016 assembly elections saw the rise of the National Democratic Alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party for the first time in Assam and the fall of the Indian National Congress.
The victory made Sarbananda Sonwal the Chief Minister of the state.
BJP won 60 seats with 29.51% vote share and a total of 49,92185 votes.
Congress won 26 seats with 30.96% vote share and a total of 52,38,655 votes.
The BJP secured victory in the election despite having a lower vote share than the Congress because it was in alliance with the AGP and the BPF.
The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) won 14 seats with 8.14% vote share and a total of 13,77,482 votes.
All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) won 13 seats with 13.05% vote share and a total of 22,07,945 votes.
The Bodoland People’s Front won 12 seats with a 3.94% vote share and a total of 6,66,057 votes.
Independent candidates won one seat with 11.09% vote share and a total of 18,67,532 votes.
The voter turnout in 2016 was around 84.72%, a record high for Assam, with 1,69,19,364 people voting in the election.
2021: In the 2021 assembly elections, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance retained power by winning 75 seats. After the results, Himanta Biswa Sarma replaced Sarbananda Sonwal as the Chief Minister of Assam.
The BJP won 60 seats and 33.21% vote share with a total of 63,84,538 votes.
INC won 29 seats and 29.67% vote share with 57,03,341 votes.
The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) won 16 seats and 9.29% votes with 17,86,551 votes.
Asom Gana Parishad won nine seats and 7.90% vote share with 1,519,234 votes.
The Liberal United People’s Party won six seats and 3.39% of the vote with 6,51,774 votes.
The Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) won four seats and 3.39% vote share with 6,51,073 votes.
The CPI (Marxist) won one seat and 0.84% of the votes with 1,60,758 votes.
Independent candidates won one seat with 5.93% vote share and 11,39,423 votes.
The opposition Mahayot Alliance won 50 seats with 43.7% of the vote.
Voter turnout was 82.42% and 23,43,6864 people voted in the election.
Published – 24 March 2026 10:15 AM IST
