Assam By-Election Results 2024: It's 5/5 For NDA And Allies In Assam

The NDA alliance in Assam won all five Assembly bypolls, with BJP securing three seats and allies AGP and UPPL winning two.

Guwahati:The ruling NDA alliance in Assam, consisting of the BJP, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), and United Peoples' Party-Liberal (UPPL), has emerged victorious in all five Assembly constituencies during the by-elections held recently. The Election Commission of India (ECI) results confirm a clean sweep for the ruling alliance, with the BJP winning three seats and its allies securing two.

BJP's Diganta Ghatowal, Diplu Ranjan Sarma and Nihar Ranjan Das won the Behali, Samaguri and Dholai constituencies while AGP's Diptimoyee Choudhury won the Bongaigaon seat and UPPL's Nirmal Kumar Brahma won the Sidli assembly seat.

The counting started at 8 am and the NDA candidates took an early lead in most of the constituencies. The first result for the saffron camp came from Behali around noon when BJP's Diganta Ghatowal was declared as the winner. Ghatowal won the seat with a margin of 9,051 votes while Ghatowal polled 50,974 votes and Congress's Jatanta Borah secured 41,896 votes.

BJP's young leader Diplu Ranjan Sarma created a history of sorts by defeating Congress candidate Tanzil Hussain in Samaguri with a margin of over 22,755 votes. The victory in Samaguri is historic for the saffron party as it is the first time that the BJP has made inroads into a constituency, completely dominated by Muslims.

The Hussains have been winning the seat since 1983 with just two exceptions--in 1985 and 1996--former Minister and Lok Sabha MP from Dhubri Rakibul Hussain had retained the seat since 2001 consecutively for the last five terms before he vacated it earlier this year after becoming a Lok Sabha MP. While Diplu Ranjan could poll 78,628 votes, Hussain's son, Tanzil could secure only 55,873 votes.

In Dholai, too, BJP candidate Nihar Ranjan Das retained the saffron legacy by defeating the Congress candidate Dhrubajyoti Purkayastha. While Nihar Ranjan Das polled 68,759 votes, his rival candidate from Congress Dhrubajyoti Purkayastha could secure only 59,742 votes.

In Bongaigaon, AGP candidate Diptimayee Choudhury has won the seat by securing 74,734 votes while Congress candidate Brajenjit Singha could poll only 39,570 votes. Choudhury, wife of former minister and present Lok Sabha MP from Barpeta constituency Phanibhushan Choudhury recorded the highest winning margin of 35,164 in the byelection to the five constituencies in Assam. Bongaigaon had been a stronghold of the regional political party Asom Gana Parishad and Phanibhushan Choudhury had been winning the seat for the last eight terms consecutively since 1985.

In Sidli constituency, NDA partner, UPPL candidate Nirmal Kumar Brahma won the seat with a margin of 37,016 votes. While Brahma could poll 95,243 votes, his nearest rival from Bodoland Peoples' Front (BPF) Suddho Kumar Basumatary could secure 58,277 votes.

"The NDA's 5/5 victory in the current by-elections is a resounding testament to Assam's unwavering support for Adarniya @narendramodi Ji's vision of good governance and development. We bow in gratitude to the people of Assam," said Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on his X handle after the victory.

"A special mention for Samaguri, a constituency with a 65 per cent minority population, held by Congress for 25 years, now won by the BJP. This historic victory reaffirms people's trust in our welfare agenda and their firm rejection of the opposition's divisive politics. My heartfelt thanks to the people for their steadfast support. We remain committed to building a Viksit Assam for all," said Sarma on his X handle.

The bypolls were held on November 13, with a voter turnout of 75.67 per cent. BJP contested three seats Behali, Samaguri, and Dholai, while its alliance partners, AGP and UPPL, contested Bongaigaon and Sidli (ST), respectively. Congress contested all five seats, and the results reflect a strong performance by the NDA alliance.

The results of this bypoll may not have any impact on the government's position as the ruling BJP-alliance comprising Asom Gana Parishad(AGP) and United Peoples' Party Liberal(UPPL) sits at a comfortable position of 75 seats.

However, political pundits consider it as a "semi-final" before the northeastern state goes to polls in 2026.

Counting arrangements

According to the Commission, elaborate security arrangements are in place for counting, which is set to begin with postal votes at 8 am. "We are prepared for the counting," officials had said on Friday evening. A voter turnout of 75.67 per cent was recorded in the by-elections.

The fights

The key constituency to watch out for is Samaguri where clashes were reported between BJP and Congress workers daily since the poll announcement came. Complaints and counter complaints with the Election Commission have galored.

The Congress has fielded Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain's son Tanzil and BJP has fielded Diplu Ranjan Sarma. The Parliamentarian bagged the LS seat by a record margin of over 10.12 lakh votes. Before that he was being returned from Samaguri to the Legislative Assembly for five consecutive terms.

The BJP has also fielded candidates in Behali, and Dholai, while allies - AGP and UPPL - are in contesting from Bongaigaon and Sidli seats.

While BJP questioned Congress for nominating Tanzil, weaponising its dynastic politics jab against the opposition party. The opposiiton Congress hit back, calling it a hypocrisy as the ruling dispensation was conveniently forgetting the candidature of Diptimayee Choudhury of AGP, contesting from Bongaigaon.

Diptimayee is the wife of AGP MP Phani Bhusan Choudhury, who had represented Bongaigaon for eight consecutive terms including as Independent since 1985. He remained undefeated since 2021. Like Hussain, Choudhury vacated the seat after his maiden election to the Parliament earlier this year.

Crack in Opposition alliance

Also, the bypoll broke the 16-party opposition alliance in state after Congress chose to field its own candidate in Behali, sidestepping its agreement to leave it for CPI(ML) Liberation. It will be a friendly contest as the left party has also fielded its candidate. Congress Lok Sabha Party Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi was camping here seeking votes for party candidate Jayanta Borah. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who led the BJP's campaign addressed a couple of public meetings besides a road show seeking support for party nominee Diganta Ghatowal.

In Dholai in Barak valley, BJP candidate Nihar Ranjan Dasis will taken on Congress candidate Dhrubajyoti Purkayastha.

After 20 years, Congress has fielded a candidate in Sidli in Bodoland Territorial Region where a three-cornered fight is witnessed. Warie of Congress, Nirmal Kumar Brahma of United People's Party Liberal and Suddho Kumar Basumatary of Bodoland People's Front will test their electoral prospects here.