Page 2 - Assam Assembly Polls

Assembly elections 2026: A tale of three record voter turnouts unfolds

From Vijay's rise in Tamil Nadu to BJP's edge in Bengal, record turnout reflects voter churn and emerging challenges to entrenched players

WB phase-II sees 91.28% third gender turnout; Puducherry tops at 91.81%: EC

West Bengal recorded a strong turnout among third gender electors in the second phase of the assembly polls, with 91.28 per cent of them exercising their franchise, according to the Election Commission. A total of 1,257 third gender electors turned up in two phases of West Bengal elections -- 465 in phase I and 792 in phase II. The turnout stood at 56.79 per cent in phase I, while it rose sharply to 91.28 per cent in phase II. Puducherry, however, recorded the highest overall turnout among third gender electors at 91.81 per cent in the recently-concluded assembly polls. The poll body said Puducherry has 139 third gender electors, of whom 91.81 per cent exercised their franchise. Tamil Nadu has 7,728 third gender electors, out of which 60.49 per cent voted during the April 23 polls. In other states, Assam has 343 third gender electors, registering a turnout of 36.84 per cent, while Kerala has 277 third gender electors, recording a turnout of 57.04 per cent. Polling in Tamil Nadu t

Exit poll results 2026: Who will win? West Bengal exit poll, Assam exit poll, Tamil Nadu exit poll

Voting for the final phase in West Bengal concluded on April 29, while Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Puducherry voted earlier this month.

Assam elections: Exit polls predict huge win for BJP; Cong to fall short

A poll of exit polls has predicted the BJP to win around 82-92 seats in the state, while the Congress-led alliance is expected to win around 24-32 seats

Record turnout: Assam 85.38%, Puducherry 89.83%; women lead surge

Assam and Puducherry surpassed their highest-ever poll-participation on Thursday by recording 85.38 per cent and 89.83 per cent respectively, the Election Commission said. Previously, the highest poll participation in Assam and Puducherry was 84.67 per cent (2016 assembly polls) and 86.19 per cent (2011 assembly polls) respectively, the poll authority noted. In Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, where assembly polls were held on Thursday, women voters outdid their male counterparts by lining up at voting centres. In Assam, while male participation stood at 84.80 per cent, female voter turnout was recorded at 85.96 per cent. Similarly in Kerala, the male poll participation was 75.01 per cent, while it was 80.86 per cent for women. In the Union Territory of Puducherry, 88.09 per cent of the male electors voted as compared to 91.33 per cent of the women. A total of 296 assembly constituencies in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry with a total electorate of over 5.31 crore went to polls, along

Assembly elections: Assam sees 85% turnout, Kerala records over 78%

Record turnout in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry signals high-stakes contests as ruling alliances seek third terms amid tight races and strong voter participation

Assam assembly polls record nearly 76% turnout till 3pm as voting continues

A voter turnout of nearly 76 per cent was recorded till 3 pm on Thursday in the assembly elections in Assam, where the BJP-led NDA is seeking a third consecutive term in power, while the Congress is looking to reclaim a state it lost a decade ago. Polling began at 7 am for the 126-member assembly, and 75.91 per cent of the state's 2.5 crore voters had exercised their right till 3 pm, defying overcast skies and rains in many parts of the state. The polling will continue till 5 pm. In the 2021 assembly elections, held in three phases, voter turnout of around 82 per cent was recorded. A total of 722 candidates are in the fray in this single-phase election, which is largely witnessing a direct contest between the BJP-led ruling coalition and the opposition bloc helmed by the Congress. Chamaria in Kamrup recorded the highest turnout of 84.43 per cent till 3 pm, while New Guwahati witnessed the lowest at 60.57 per cent, officials said. This is the first assembly poll in the state after

Assembly polls: Assam records 59% voter turnout by 1 pm, 49% in Keralam

The polling trends in the Union Territory of Puducherry showed a sizeable voter turnout of 56.83 per cent

Datanomics: Mapping candidate demographics ahead of April 9 polls

From age and education to wealth and criminal cases, a closer look at who is contesting the April 9 polls across key states

State Assembly elections test Modi's handling of war-driven shortages

While Modi's BJP seeks to expand its foothold in states dominated by regional parties, the elections come as India faces an uncertain growth outlook after a surge in oil prices following West Asia war

Voting begins in Assam, Keralam, and Puducherry; results on May 4

Voting will be held for 126 seats in Assam, 140 in Keralam, and 30 in Puducherry in this phase of the election

Assam polls see fewer criminal cases, sharp rise in crorepati candidates

Share of candidates with criminal cases declines slightly, while crorepatis rise sharply, underscoring growing role of money in elections

Polling begins today in Kerala, Assam, Puducherry for Assembly elections

High-stakes polls in Kerala, Assam and Puducherry test incumbents, opposition strength and shifting political dynamics across key regions

Assam to vote on Thursday; BJP aims hat-trick, Congress eyes wresting power

The high-stakes elections to the 126-member Assam assembly will be held on Thursday, with most seats slated to witness a direct contest between the BJP-led NDA and the opposition coalition helmed by the Congress. The BJP is eyeing a third straight term in power in these elections, while the Congress is looking to wrest the state, from where it was ousted in 2016. A total of 722 candidates, including Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal, Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi, and AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi, are in the fray. Polling will be held from 7 am to 5 pm across 31,490 polling stations in 35 districts. A total of 2.50 crore people, including 1.25 crore women and 318 from the third gender, are eligible to vote. Among political parties, the Congress has fielded the highest number of candidates at 99, followed by the BJP with 90. The AIUDF has 30 candidates, while NDA constituent

From Congress bastion to BJP stronghold: How Assam's politics has evolved

Assam is set to vote on April 9 in a closely watched election, with the BJP aiming to retain power and the Congress hoping to regain ground in a state shaped by identity politics and alliances

Fewer sittings, quicker Bill passage mark Assam Assembly's functioning

Assam Assembly saw reduced sitting days but faster lawmaking, with most Bills passed within a week, raising concerns over limited debate and legislative scrutiny

Tea tribe community at centre of Assam election battle amid welfare push

Welfare measures, wage hikes and land rights outreach intensify as parties compete for tea tribe votes amid persistent socio-economic challenges in Assam's plantation belt

Cong keeps singing to Pak's tunes, compromising nation's security: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that while his government has carried out Operation Sindoor on terror camps in Pakistan, the Congress keeps on "singing to the tune of" the neighbouring country. On the development front, he alleged that the Congress had always taken a myopic view on the matter, while the BJP works towards ensuring long-term development of the nation. "The party always took short-term measures so that they could indulge in corruption. But the BJP looks far ahead while taking decisions for all-around development of all sections of society," Modi said. Addressing an election rally here in Assam's Barpeta district, the prime minister said the Congress has "always sung to Pakistan's tune". "This Pakistan connection compromises with the nation's security, and we can never allow that," he said. He also accused the Congress of neglecting the army by refusing to implement 'One Rank, One Pension'. But the BJP ensured that those who protect the nation get justice,

Cong made allegations against my wife using false info from Pak: Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday claimed the Congress has concocted the charge that his wife has multiple passports and owns properties in Dubai, using false information from a Pakistani social media group. He also alleged that Pakistan was trying to influence the outcome of the Assam elections. At a press conference here, a day after Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Gaurav Gogoi sought to know whether his wife or family owns property in Dubai, has companies in the USA, or has placed their assets in shell companies, Sarma said these charges have been made to influence the poll results, which is "punishable under the law". The BJP leader also alleged that the documents the Congress used to make the allegations against his wife were sourced from a social media group "Pakistanis in Ajman", and her photo was morphed on a lost passport of a person from that country. "I am concerned that they took the help of Pakistan. This is not a simple fraud case but a crime against

BJP's two-pronged approach in Assam ahead of high-stakes Assembly polls

BJP blends welfare outreach to women with identity politics in Assam, as Himanta Biswa Sarma eyes a second term amid rising concerns over polarisation