Guwahati: As Assam heads toward the 2026 Assembly elections, a familiar alliance is showing signs of strain. In Guwahati Central—one of the most high-profile urban constituencies created after the 2023 delimitation—a quiet but intense tug of war is underway between NDA partners, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).
Much like the contest brewing in Hailakandi, both allies are staking claim to Guwahati Central, a constituency carved out largely from the erstwhile Gauhati West seat, with added portions from Gauhati East. For AGP, the claim rests on legacy; for BJP, it is about numbers, organisation, and a changed political map.
AGP argued that the seat should naturally come to it, citing the long electoral dominance of veteran leader Ramendra Narayan Kalita, who represented Gauhati West for six terms (except in 2001). The party maintains that its organisational contribution to the alliance remains intact even after delimitation.
However, the BJP sees the redrawn boundaries as a game-changer. The inclusion of four wards from East and West Guwahati—areas where the BJP enjoys strong grassroots support—has significantly tilted the balance, party leaders say.
BJP spokesperson and ticket aspirant Dewan Dhruba Jyoti Maral, who sought BJP ticket from Guwahati Central, pointed out that of the 15 municipal councillors in the new constituency, 13 belong to the BJP. “In 2016 and 2021, we supported AGP’s candidate as alliance partners. But the delimitation has altered the character of the seat. Our grassroots workers are now demanding that BJP contest Guwahati Central,” he said.
Maral added that younger leaders should be given a chance this time. “People from East Guwahati also want a BJP candidate. If we leave the seat to AGP now, it could have a negative impact on our organisation,” he said, while stressing that the party would ultimately abide by the central leadership’s decision.
Kalita, however, pushed back against the BJP’s claim, asserting that AGP’s role cannot be sidelined. “The wards where BJP is strong today were won by alliance candidates. AGP also has its contribution,” he said, reflecting the unease within the ally camp.
The internal competition within the BJP further underlines the seat’s perceived winnability. Apart from Maral, leaders Bijay Gupta and Ashok Kumar Bharali are also seeking the party ticket, signalling strong interest in what is now considered a prime urban constituency.
Formed after the 2023 delimitation exercise, Guwahati Central (Madhya Guwahati) encompasses major commercial hubs, including Fancy Bazaar, Paltan Bazaar, and AT Road. With nearly two lakh voters, the constituency has emerged as a BJP stronghold, buoyed by an urban, largely middle-class electorate. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP reportedly polled around 73 per cent of the vote in this segment.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other senior leaders have repeatedly expressed confidence that the BJP-led NDA will sweep all five Kamrup (Metro) seats, crediting delimitation for strengthening the party’s prospects in urban Guwahati.
Congress, meanwhile, remains a distant challenger. Several leaders have expressed interest in contesting from Guwahati Central, but the party’s organisational weakness in the city limits its impact, according to political observers.
Seat-sharing talks between the BJP and AGP are said to be at an advanced stage, with final decisions expected between mid and late February.
Until then, Guwahati Central remains a key pressure point within the NDA—one where alliance arithmetic, ambition, and legacy collide in the run-up to a crucial election.
Assam Congress spokesperson Reetam Singh, who is also seeking the party ticket from Guwahati Central, said that after delimitation, the constituency has emerged as a largely urban and cosmopolitan seat, with significant Hindi-speaking and Bengali populations concentrated in areas such as Fancy Bazaar, Pan Bazaar, Rehabari, Lachit Nagar and Birubari.
He alleged that these localities continue to suffer from chronic problems, including irregular water supply, artificial flooding, and unplanned urbanisation.
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Singh said that while these areas traditionally formed the BJP’s core vote base, riding largely on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal, growing public dissatisfaction has set in due to what he described as repeated “betrayals” and unfulfilled promises, including the Chief Minister’s assurance of ₹10 crore per ward during the GMC elections.
He further claimed that areas such as Uzanbazar, Pan Bazaar and Lakhtokia, which have a substantial Muslim population, feel increasingly alienated due to the Chief Minister’s rhetoric, alleging that divisive politics have overshadowed genuine development concerns.
Singh also criticised the “unchecked flyover construction” across Guwahati, saying it has resulted in persistent traffic congestion and year-round disruptions, severely affecting daily life and commerce.
Describing Central Guwahati as the commercial hub of the Northeast, he alleged that the business community has grown disillusioned due to what he termed as a “syndicate raj” and extortion practices.
Singh argued that these cumulative issues have created strong anti-incumbency sentiments against the BJP, forcing the sitting MLA to opt out and compelling the party to search for a new face.
He maintained that by focusing on basic civic issues and avoiding communal polarisation, the Congress sees a strong chance of winning the Guwahati Central constituency.
