GUWAHATI (Feb 28, 2026) — Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced that the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) expects to finalize its seat-sharing agreements by March 10 ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
The NDA Front: Unity with “Friendly Fights”
While the core alliance is firm, the strategy for the 126-member assembly involves some tactical flexibility:
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AGP & BJP: The long-standing partnership with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) is nearing completion. However, Sarma noted that “friendly fights” may occur in select seats to satisfy the local aspirations of both parties’ workers.
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New Entrants: The Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), which was previously with the Congress, has officially joined the NDA. Their seat-sharing deal is also expected to be sealed by the March 10 deadline.
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The Bodo Factor: While talks with the UPPL are ongoing, Sarma expressed confidence that the party remains a committed ally against the opposition.
Opposition Struggles: The Congress Dilemma
In contrast to the NDA’s progress, the opposition Asom Sonmilito Morcha is facing internal friction:
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Raijor Dal Standoff: Led by Akhil Gogoi, the Raijor Dal is demanding 15 seats, while Congress reportedly intends to contest 100. This has led to a public “rift,” with Congress leaders calling for confidentiality during negotiations.
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Finalized Partners: State Congress President Gaurav Gogoi indicated that deals with the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and Left parties are mostly complete, pending a final announcement from the high command.
With the Election Commission expected to announce poll dates in early March, both major camps are in a race to present a unified front.
