Guwahati: Assam’s 2026 assembly elections on Thursday have rewritten the state’s democratic script with a turnout of 85.5%, the highest ever since the first polls in 1951 as thousands of voters defied rain and cast their ballot across the northeastern state.The Election Commission said the final poll percentage was likely to go up further after they finish tabulating reports from remote booths on Friday morning.The polling was largely peaceful across the 126 constituencies, barring some sporadic incidents of group clashes in Patharkandi constituency in Sribhumi district and Khowang in Dibrugarh district, leaving about 30 injured.There were also reports of EVM malfunctioning in a few polling stations that interrupted the polling process for a while. A poll official died before the start of polling in Naduar constituency in Sonitpur district, but officials said it was possibly due to an underlying health condition.Braving a steady downpour, enthusiastic voters, including many women dressed in colourful attire, queued up from early morning in many booths to cast their ballot.“I have been waiting for this day since I turned 18. A little rain was never going to stop me. It doesn’t matter if it rains or shines — we want better roads, jobs and education. This is my first vote, and I wanted to make sure my voice is heard,” said Irina Saikia, a first-time voter waiting in line outside the MDKG College polling station in Dibrugarh, her umbrella dripping but her mood buoyant.In 2016, BJP formed its first government in the state dethroning Congress after its three-term unbroken run with the earlier highest polling percentage of 84.6% votes.Political leaders quickly seized on the turnout to frame their narrative with CM Himanta Biswa Sarma hailing the participation as “not ordinary but historic,” and declaring that the election had become a movement to protect Assam’s civilisational values, culture and land.“I think we will secure 90 plus seats, and even if we touch 100 there is nothing to be surprised about. We will also win two minority seats. AIUDF may get four to five seats, Congress 18 to 22, so the opposition will be around 36 if we get 90,” a buoyant Himanta predicted.Calling it a watershed moment, he said people voted with a resolve to protect their land, identity and culture from illegal infiltration and demographic aggression.BPF president and Bodoland Territorial Council chief Hagrama Mohilary also claimed a “clean sweep by NDA in all the 15 seats in BTC,” underscoring the confidence of the ruling alliance in its stronghold.On the other side, Congress state president Gaurav Gogoi, who fought from Jorhat, thanked voters for turning out in large numbers to support change for a “New Bor Asom” (New and Greater Assam) and urged the EC to ensure the security of EVMs and accurate counting on May 4.Assam CEO Anurag Goel said that despite inclement weather in some areas, the enthusiasm of voters remained undiminished.Expressed gratitude to the people of Assam for their active participation, Goel said, “The presence of a large number of people at designated locations even after 5 PM reflects the public’s awareness and enthusiasm towards voting,” he said.The Muslim-majority constituencies have powered the surge in the turnout, as it always does historically, with Dalgaon constituency in Darrang district recording the highest of 94.5%. Fifteen other constituencies where Muslims are decisive voters have recorded turnouts above 90%.The Hindu belt in upper Assam in the eastern corner of the state as a whole recorded a turn out lag at 82%, below the state average as well as a one-point decline from 2021. Nazira (84.7%) and Majuli (83.6%) were however strong performers.Industrial hubs like Dibrugarh (77.9%), Tinsukia (77.7%), and Jorhat (77.9%) pulled the belt’s averages down.The Bodoland heartland averaged 85%, with Parbatjhora (90.4%) and Baokhungri (87.7%) leading while the north bank was strong at 84.1%.Barak Valley closed at 82.9%, with Karimganj North at the top (84.5%.). The Hill districts were the weakest link as Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao averaged 74.2%, the lowest in the state, largely due to to terrain, logistical challenges, and political disengagement.The biggest urban centre, Guwahati’s five constituencies averaged 76.3% just above the hill districts where chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s Jalukubari constituency recorded the highest in the city at 80.8%.
