Issue Brief on “Upcoming State Elections in Assam: From Electoral Alliances to Communal Divides”

Introduction

April 2026 is bound to be the most happening month of this year for India's electoral journey as more than 220 million of its citizens will be electing their respective legislative assemblies in 4 states and a Union Territory. As per the schedule released by Election Commission of India, Assam, Kerala, and Pudducherry UT will go into legislative assembly elections on 9 April; whereas state assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and parts of West Bengal will be held on 23 April. The remaining constituencies of the West Bengal state will undergo the process on 29 April followed by the result announcement on 4 May.

Although each of these states has distinct political realities, these elections are being seen as critical which may potentially impact the country's national politics. National character parties such as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress (INC), along with their respective regional allies, have resorted to various strategies to make the most out of the electoral face-off. The most significant election in the first phase on 9 April is that of Assam. The following pages present an overview of how political realities, electoral dynamics, public issues, communal divisions, and party positions are playing out in Assam.

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