Guwahati: Voting for the by-elections in five Assam assembly constituencies—Dholai (SC), Sidli (ST), Bongaigaon, Behali, and Samaguri—has drawn significant attention, with early trends indicating tight races.
These elections are being viewed as a test of party strategies and could reshape the political landscape in Assam ahead of the next assembly elections.
In Samaguri, BJP’s Diplu Ranjan Sarma holds a narrow lead of 71 votes over Congress candidate Tanzil Hussain, the son of Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain. The constituency, a traditional Congress stronghold, is the only seat out of the five not previously held by the BJP-led alliance, making it a key battleground.
Meanwhile, in Bongaigaon, AGP candidate Diptimayee Choudhury is leading by 69 votes in a competitive race against Congress’ Brajenjit Singha. AGP, an ally of BJP, is aiming to strengthen its foothold in the region with this win.
In Behali, Congress candidate Jayanta Borah, a former BJP member, has a slim lead of 25 votes over BJP’s Diganta Ghatowal. The race has also seen distant contenders like CPI(ML)’s Lakhikanta Kurmi and AAP’s Ananta Gogoi, though neither have posed a significant challenge.
In Dholai, BJP’s Nihar Ranjan Das is comfortably ahead by 132 votes against Congress’ Dhrubajyoti Purkayastha, signaling a potential consolidation of the ruling alliance in this seat.
The Sidli constituency is witnessing a three-way battle, with UPPL’s Nirmal Kumar Brahma leading by 32 votes. Congress’ Sanjib Warie and BPF’s Suddho Kumar Basumatary are trailing in what has emerged as a close contest in the tribal seat.
The outcomes of these bypolls, expected by evening, hold high stakes for both the BJP-led alliance and the opposition Congress. While the BJP seeks to strengthen its dominance in the state assembly, where it currently holds 61 seats, Congress is fighting to regain ground. These results will not only reflect voter sentiment but also influence Assam’s political strategies in the run-up to the next state elections.
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