Assam Bypolls Tomorrow, Fate of a Son and a Wife and 32 Other Candidates To be Sealed

With a total of 1,078 polling stations across the five constituencies, a healthy voter turnout is anticipated.

Assam is all set for its bye-elections on November 13, with voting taking place across five constituencies: Sidli, Bongaigaon, Samaguri, Behali, and Dholai. The elections have attracted significant attention, particularly in the constituencies of Samaguri and Behali, which are expected to be the most closely contested. In total, 34 candidates are in the fray for these five seats, with Samaguri seeing the highest number of candidates, 11 in total.

These bypolls are being seen as a precursor to the upcoming 2026 Assam Assembly elections, with the ruling BJP-led alliance aiming to maintain its dominance, while the opposition struggles with internal divisions. The stakes are also high for several prominent political families, as the electoral fate of a spouse and a son of veteran politicians will be decided tomorrow.

Key Candidates and Constituencies:

The contest in each constituency is shaping up to be a fierce battle between the BJP-led alliance and a divided opposition. In Bongaigaon, the AGP’s Diptimayee Choudhury, wife of eight-time MLA and current Barpeta MP Phani Bhusan Choudhury, is facing off against Congress candidate Brajenjit Sinha, a retired IPS officer.

In Samaguri, Tanzil Hussain, son of Congress’s Dhubri MP and 5-time MLA from Samaguri, Rakibul Hussain, is contesting against BJP’s Diplu Ranjan Sharma and AAP’s Nurul Amin Chowdhury.
In Behali, BJP’s Diganta Ghatowal is up against Congress’s Jayanta Bora, along with candidates from CPIM-L and AAP.

While the BJP-AGP-UPPL alliance has maintained unity, the opposition’s efforts to field a common candidate have faltered, especially in Behali, where infighting is threatening to weaken their chances.
The contest in Dholai and Sidli constituencies too is expected to be intense. In Dholai, BJP’s Nihar Ranjan Da will compete against Congress’s Dhrubajyoti Purkayastha.

In Sidli, it is going to be a straight fight between UPPL’s Nirmal Kumar Brahma and BPF’s Shuddha Kumar Basumatari though Congress’s Sanjib Warie.

Here are the facts and figures of each of the 5 constituencies:

1. Bongaigaon

• Key Candidates: Diptimayee Choudhury (AGP) vs Brajenjit Singha (Congress)
• Total Voters: 1,82,354
• Male Voters: 89,510
• Female Voters: 92,
• Third Gender Voters: 2
• Polling Stations: 246

2. Samaguri

• Key Candidates: Diplu Ranjan Sharma (BJP) vs. Tanzil Hussain (Congress)
• Total Voters: 1,80,448
• Male Voters: 91,394
• Female Voters: 89,133
• Third Gender Voters: 11
• Polling Stations: 197

3. Dholai

• Key Candidates: Nihar Ranjan Da (BJP) vs. Dhrubajyoti Purkayastha (Congress)
• Total Voters: 1,96,772
• Male Voters: 99,431
• Female Voters: 97,340
• Third Gender Voters: 1
• Polling Stations: 208

4. Behali

• Key Candidates: Diganta Ghatoral (BJP) vs. Jayanta Borah (Congress)
• Total Voters: 1,33,300
• Male Voters: 65,934
• Female Voters: 66,365
• Third Gender Voters: 1
• Polling Stations: 154

5. Sidli

• Key Candidates: Nirmal Kumar Brahma (UPPL) vs. Shuddha Kumar Basumatary (BPF)
• Total Voters: 2,12,555
• Male Voters: 1,05,133
• Female Voters: 1,06,920
• Third Gender Voters: 2
• Polling Stations: 204

As the state prepares for tomorrow’s elections, election authorities have ensured tight security arrangements. Polling teams, along with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and other necessary equipment, are being dispatched today to the respective polling stations. Security personnel are accompanying these teams to safeguard the voting process. The need for heightened security has become especially evident in Samaguri, where pre-poll violence marred the campaigning, prompting authorities to take extra precautions.

Before polling begins at 7:00 AM tomorrow, mock polling will be conducted at all polling stations to test the functioning of the equipment. The tight security and meticulous arrangements are expected to ensure a smooth and peaceful election day across the five constituencies.

With a total of 1,078 polling stations across the five constituencies, a healthy voter turnout is anticipated.

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