NEW DELHI: The political battle for Assam will enter its decisive stage with the counting of votes on Monday, determining whether the BJP-led NDA secures a third consecutive term or the Congress stages a comeback after a high-voltage campaign centred on identity politics, welfare delivery and regional aspirations.A total of 722 candidates are in the fray across 126 Assembly constituencies. Congress has fielded the highest number of candidates at 99, followed by the BJP with 90. The AIUDF has 30 candidates, while NDA allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodo Peoples’ Front (BPF) have fielded 26 and 11 nominees respectively.Among other players, Raijor Dal contested 13 seats, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) 10, CPI(M) three, and the All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC) two. The Aam Aadmi Party and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) contested 18 seats each, the Trinamool Congress 22, and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) 16. There are also 258 Independent candidates.

High-profile faces in the fray

Several key leaders will have their electoral fate decided on May 4, including chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Congress state president Gaurav Gogoi, AGP’s Atul Bora, Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary, leader of the opposition Debabrata Saikia, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal, Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi, and AJP chief Lurinjyoti Gogoi.Sarma is seeking a third consecutive term from Jalukbari, a seat he has represented multiple times. In the 2021 elections, he won by a record margin, securing 130,762 votes and a 73.52% vote share against Congress candidate Romen Chandra Borthakur.Gaurav Gogoi, shifting from national to state politics, is contesting from Jorhat and is seen as a key face of the Congress’s push to regain ground in upper Assam.In Tamulpur, the performance of Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary will be closely watched as a test of the BJP-UPPL alliance in the Bodoland Territorial Region. Debabrata Saikia is aiming to retain Nazira, a constituency long associated with his family’s political legacy.AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal is contesting from Binnakandi, looking to consolidate minority votes, while in Sivasagar, Akhil Gogoi continues to be a strong grassroots figure, having won the seat in 2021 as an Independent with 57,219 votes.Lurinjyoti Gogoi is contesting from Khowang, seeking to convert student-led regional mobilisation into electoral success. Meanwhile, AGP president Atul Bora is in the fray from Bokakhat, and senior minister Keshab Mahanta is contesting from Kaliabor.In Mazbat, BPF’s Charan Boro is attempting to revive the party’s influence in the Bodo belt, making it another closely watched contest.The BJP-led NDA includes AGP and BPF as key allies, while the opposition bloc comprises Congress, Raijor Dal, AJP, CPI(M), APHLC and CPI(ML).In the outgoing Assembly, the BJP holds 64 seats, with allies AGP (9), UPPL (7) and BPF (3). The opposition includes Congress (26), AIUDF (15), CPI(M) (1) and one Independent MLA.

Tight security for counting

Counting will take place at 40 centres across all 35 districts under heavy security. Electronic voting machines (EVMs) containing votes of over 2.5 crore electors will be opened amid strict monitoring.Twenty-five companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed to guard counting centres and strongrooms, while around 800 additional unarmed police personnel will assist in transporting EVMs. Authorities have also stationed 93 companies of state armed police and 85 assault groups to handle any untoward incidents.Counting in Nagaon will be conducted at three centres, while Kokrajhar, Tinsukia and Jorhat will each have two counting locations. Polling for the Assembly elections was held on April 9, with a robust voter turnout of 85.96 per cent. Among the candidates, 59 are women.