GUWAHATI: The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is in full swing with preparations for the upcoming 2026 Assam Assembly elections. Speaking on the matter, Assam BJP State President Dilip Saikia announced that NDA candidates will contest in all 126 constituencies across the state.

He noted that preliminary discussions have already been held with the leadership of their ally, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), and a final decision on seat-sharing will be reached shortly.

Key Highlights of the Report:

Strength of the Alliance: Saikia expressed confidence that the bond between the BJP and AGP is not merely superficial but is deeply rooted at the grassroots level. He cited the alliance's success in recent Panchayat elections as proof of this solidarity.

Seat-Sharing Formula: Due to the recent delimitation process, some old constituencies have disappeared while new ones have been formed. Saikia acknowledged that this might lead to minor local confusion regarding seat-sharing, but emphasized that all issues would be resolved amicably through dialogue.

Winnability as the Criteria: The NDA coalition in Assam includes the BJP, AGP, Ganashakti, TMPK, BPF, and UPPL. Saikia asserted that 'winnability' will be the primary factor in selecting candidates for each seat.

'This is our Final Match'

Comparing the BJP's election readiness to a game of cricket, Saikia said, "The BJP starts preparing for the next election as soon as one ends. For us, the 2016 election was the quarter-final, 2021 was the semi-final, but the 2026 election will be our Final. We are prepared for this with our full strength."

Political Analysis

The BJP is striving to retain power for a third consecutive term in Assam. The popularity of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's welfare schemes, combined with Dilip Saikia's organizational leadership, is expected to strengthen the party. However, managing the internal rivalry between allies like the BPF and UPPL to keep the coalition united remains a key challenge for the BJP.