With 325 uncontested wins and dominance in key districts like Golaghat, Majuli, and Jorhat, the BJP’s grassroots strategy, led by Dilip Saikia and endorsed by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, has paid off.
BY PC Bureau
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has surged ahead in the 2025 Assam Panchayat Elections, emerging as the clear frontrunner as vote counting continues. Early trends from the two-phase polls held on May 2 and 7 indicate a sweeping victory for the BJP and its ally, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), reinforcing their grassroots strength ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
According to the Assam State Election Commission (ASEC), the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had, by May 11 evening, won or was leading in 263 of the 397 Zila Parishad Constituencies (ZPC) and 631 of 2,192 Anchalik Panchayat (AP) seats. In contrast, the Congress was ahead in just 46 ZPC and 62 AP segments, while the AIUDF trailed further with 12 and 10, respectively.
Unofficial report said that the BJP was leading in 355 AP seats and its ally AGP in 42 seats, while the Congress is ahead in 21 AP constituencies. In the case of ZP, the saffron party is marching ahead in 35 and AGP in two. Congress is not leading in any ZP seat yet.
The BJP’s dominance is particularly visible in districts like Golaghat, Majuli, Jorhat, and Biswanath. In Golaghat, BJP candidates led in ZPCs like Tarani and Ratanpur and swept several Anchalik Panchayats. In Majuli, the party won all 10 ward member posts in Rawanapar Gaon Panchayat, and in Jorhat, it secured 9 out of 10 declared Gaon Panchayat results.
The NDA’s edge was further reinforced by 325 uncontested wins prior to polling—comprising 37 ZPC seats (35 BJP, 2 AGP) and 288 AP seats (259 BJP, 29 AGP). Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hailed the outcome as a “massive and unprecedented mandate,” crediting it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and the NDA’s governance record.
Sarma also praised state BJP chief Dilip Saikia, who led an intensive grassroots campaign and addressed 51 rallies. “The people of Assam have reaffirmed their trust in our vision for development,” Sarma said.
Meanwhile, the Congress struggled with internal discord and allegations of a “cash-for-ticket” scandal. State Congress chief Bhupen Borah accused the BJP of deliberately delaying polls and misusing state resources, while BJP leaders countered that Congress failed to field candidates in numerous constituencies, leading to NDA’s uncontested wins.
Guwahati | On Assam panchayat polls, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma says, “State BJP president Dilip Saikia led us in this election. From the beginning, we were confident that we would be able to get a massive victory result after the successful completion of all things, from the… pic.twitter.com/bPoe21xljH
— ANI (@ANI) May 12, 2025
Held across 27 districts (excluding Sixth Schedule areas), the elections saw high voter participation—70.19% in the first phase and 79.23% in the second. While some violence was reported in Cachar, the counting, which began on May 11 under tight security, has been smooth. ASEC Commissioner Alok Kumar noted the logistical challenge of counting three ballot papers per panchayat, with final results expected late on May 12.
These elections are set to fill 21,920 Gram Panchayat seats, 2,192 Anchalik Panchayat positions, and 397 Zila Parishad posts. Notably, 50% of seats are reserved for women, and the use of ballot papers (instead of EVMs) added a distinct dynamic, especially in the apolitical Gram Panchayat contests without party symbols.
While the AGP held ground in Upper Assam, newer parties like the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and Raijor Dal struggled for traction. An exception was Khawang Gaon Panchayat in Dibrugarh, where AJP-backed candidates won over six seats.
As counting nears completion, the BJP’s commanding lead underscores its deep roots in Assam’s rural landscape, positioning the party for a strong showing in the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections
