Congress all set to return to power in Assam

Riding on development plank and return of peace, the Congress in Assam is all set to create history by returning to power for the third time winning three seats and leading in 77 others in the 126-seat Assembly.

The party has won from Teok, Bokajan (ST) and Jalukbari constituencies. Membor Gogoi won from Teok for the third consecutive term, defeating AGP's Hemanta Kalita by 29,899 votes.

From Bokajan (ST) seat, Kiengdoong Engti defeated independent Jagat Singh Engti by 16,809 votes, while in Jalukbari Health Minister Himanta Sarma wins for the third time defeating BJP rival by a record 77,161 votes.

Congress candidate Bharat Chandra Narah, MLA for the last 25 years, lost to AGP's Nabakumar Toley by a margin of 5,600 from Dhakuakhana.

In a big boost for the Trinamool Congress, which is on a roll in West Bengal, has for the first time won in Assam with its candidate Dwipen Pathak from Hajo defeating former Lok Sabha MP Kirip Chaliha of Congress by 500 votes. Trinamool contested in 112 seats.

The Congress this time is set to form its government on its own merit, while its alliance partner Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) has also put in a good performance leading in 13 constituencies.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi in Titabor along with his most cabinet colleagues barring Khorsing Engti (Howraghat) is leading.

The main opposition regional party Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which had won 24 seats in the last elections, cuts a sorry figure leading in only seven seats, while the other major party BJP, with ten seats in the last Assembly, barely manages to lead in three constituencies.

The AIUDF with ten seats in the last Assembly is set to improve its performance leading in 14 seats.

AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary (Dharmapur), former president Brindaban Goswami (Tezpur), party general secretary Hiten Goswami (Jorhat), sitting Nalbari MLA Alaka Desai Sarma and former ministers Dr Kamala Kalita (Chaygaon), Atul Bora (Dispur) and Ramendra Narayan Kalita (Guwahati West) are trailing.

BJP state unit president and Bihali sitting MLA Ranjit Dutta, Karimganj North sitting MLA and leader of the party in the assembly Mission Ranjan Das and Dibrugarh sitting party MLA Prasanta Phukan are also trailing.

Former two-time chief minister and opposition leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta is leading in his home constituency Baharampur, but is trailing in Samaguri behind forest minister Rockybul Hussain.

The other opposition CPI(M),CPI and NCP with two and one seats each, respectively, are yet to open their accounts.