Ahead of the Assembly elections in Assam, the electoral arithmetic among the NDA alliance partners can prove to be challenge for the party in power
Assam Assembly Elections
Ahead of the Assembly elections in Assam, the electoral arithmetic among the NDA alliance partners can prove to be challenge for the party in power. One such seat is the Lahowal and Chabua Assembly constituency where both the leader of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) is seen asserting themselves.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) share a long-standing political alliance in Assam, rooted in shared positions on Assamese identity, regional interests, and governance. The partnership was revived ahead of the 2016 Assam Assembly elections, marking a decisive shift in the state’s political landscape after decades of Congress dominance.
Since 2016, the BJP–AGP alliance has formed the government in Assam twice, in 2016 and again in 2021, with the BJP emerging as the dominant partner. While the BJP provides organisational strength, national leadership, and governance capacity, the AGP brings regional legitimacy, historical connection with the Assam Movement, and influence among Assamese nationalist voters.
Following delimitation, the Lahowal and Chabua Assembly segments have been merged into a single constituency. BJP’s Lahowal MLA Binod Hazarika and AGP’s Chabua MLA Punakon Baruah have both stepped up efforts to demonstrate their political strength.
It remains to be seen who will eventually secure the Chabua–Lahowal ticket. Sources said the AGP is keen to retain the seat, and discussions with the BJP are ongoing at the highest level. Punakon Baruah, who enjoys a good reputation among voters in Chabua for his simplicity, is widely backed by locals who want him to be the party’s nominee. Both Hazarika and Baruah have intensified their campaigns and are actively reaching out to voters ahead of the ticket decision.
Another seat which is making noise for contradictions is the Dharmapur Assembly constituency post delimitation, where ambitions are there for two BJP leaders in the newly formed Tihu constituency has emerged as a fresh battleground within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), setting the stage for an intense contest between experience and generational change ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Senior minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, political heavyweight and long-serving cabinet member, has surfaced as a strong contender from Tihu. Known for handling key portfolios over the years, Patowary continues to command considerable influence and organizational strength, particularly in his former Dharmapur constituency, which now forms a significant part of the new electoral landscape.
Challenging the veteran minister is Trinayan Barman, an executive member of the Assam BJP and Assistant Secretary of the Olympic Association, who has rapidly risen as a prominent aspirant from Tihu. A familiar face among the youth, Barman has gained momentum at the grassroots level and is increasingly being viewed as a symbol of emerging leadership within the party.
