The BJP coalition has won a comfortable victory with 86 seats in the 126-member Assam Assembly. Party's chief ministerial candidate > Sarbananda Sonowal said the priority of the new government will be to protect the interests of “greater Assamese society.”
Meanwhile, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) president Badruddin Ajmal, who lost from South Salmara constituency, said, "The public has given its mandate to the BJP. We welcome this change." > Read more
As it happened:
10.00 pm: And that's a wrap for the Assam Assembly elections today.
BJP has won 60 seats, with its coalition partners — the Asom Gana Parishad and the Bodoland Peoples Front winning 14 and 12 respectively.
7.05 p.m.: Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulates all the voters, says "these results will inspire BJP to work even harder." > Read more
6.45 p.m.: "BJP forming a government in Assam surprised many just like the time when we joined a government in Jammu and Kashmir," says Prime Minister Narendra Modi. ANI
5.00 p.m.: "We accept the verdict of the people of Assam. We will introspect into reasons for our loss and will rededicate ourselves to service of people with greater vigour," says Sonia Gandhi to ANI .
3.48 p.m.: "Assam's victory is important in many ways, given that it is a border state. Government is committed to the development of the state," says BJP party chief Amit Shah. ANI
It is worth mentioning here that, BJP had carefully made alliance with smaller parties and ethnic groups like the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), the Bodo People's Front (BPF) and the Rabhas and the Tiwa community, which also paved the way for its strong hold in state.
3.40 p.m.: Amrit Badshah (Congress) of Bilasipara defeats Ashok Kumar Singhi of BJP by 5,096 votes. And, Sitting Congress MLA Atuwa Munda from Tingkhong constituency lost to Bimal Borah (BJP) by 18,338 votes.
3.30 p.m.: Nandita Das of Congress from Boko SC, defeated by Jyoti Prasad Das AGP by 17,600 votes.
3.20 p.m.: BJP’s Chakradhar Gogoi of Moran constituency defeats former Union Minister Paban Singh Ghatowar of Congress.
3.15 p.m.: AIUDF Chief and Dhubri Lok Sabha MP Badruddin Ajmal (South Salmara constituency) loses to Congress candidate Wajed Ali Choudhury by 16,723 votes.
Mr. Ajmal won 10 seats on its electoral debut in 2006.
2.30 p.m.: "I congratulate Sarbananda Sonowal and BJP for their grand success, we will fulfil our role as opposition," says Tarun Gogoi. "With all humbleness we accept the verdict of people of Assam," he adds. ANI
Tarun Gogoi, who has been in power for 15 years is leading from his constituency, Titabar.
2.00 p.m.: The Bihar polls had a signal effect on how the BJP strategised for the Assam elections. Within weeks of that ignominious defeat in the state, the BJP decided to appoint chief minister-elect and Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal as its state unit chief, a clear sign that the party had decided to go local in Assam. > Read more
Jitendra Singh. Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar
1.00 p.m.: "Thank the people of Assam. It is retitration of faith of the people in leadership of PM Modi," Jitendra Singh,MoS PMO tells ANI .
12.30 p.m.: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday termed the > BJP’s victory in Assam as “historic” and “phenomenal” and said the party will do everything possible to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of the people of the state.
11.40 a.m.: People celebrate outside BJP office after trends show party leading in state.
As BJP inches towards victory, it is worth mentioning that the party had done fairly well even in 2014 General elections, winning seven out of 14 parliamentary seats in the State with its vote share jumping from 12 per cent in the 2011 State election to 37 per cent. Breaking down the 2014 results by Assembly constituency, the BJP was leading in 69 Assembly constituencies in 2014 while they had only won only five in 2011. > Read more
10.58 a.m.: "Yeh vijay BJP ke liye bahut mahatvapurn hai, ye Congress ke liye ek lesson hai (This victory is very important for BJP and a lesson for Congress)," says Ram Madhav to ANI .
10.50 a.m.: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi offers prayers at Namghar temple. ANI
10.30 a.m.: AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal trailing by over 7861 votes to Congress's candidate from Salmara South constituency, ANI reports.
10.20 a.m.: "Barak Valley and Brahmaputra Valley are two strongest parts of Assam, both need to function hand in hand and so will be equally promoted. Our interest is to protect rights and culture of all the bonafide citizens," says Sarbananda Sonowal to NDTV .
He further says that the government when comes in power will concentrate on sealing India-Bangladesh border to stop illegal immigrants coming inside the state. Mr. Sonowal also mentioned that NRC process will soon be concluded.
Also read: >A paper trail that leads nowhere
9.53 a.m.: AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal trailing by over 2,400 votes to Congress candidate from Salmara South constituency, reports ANI .
Mr. Ajmal won 10 seats on its electoral debut in 2006. He won two seats in South Salmara and Jamunamukh. > Read more
9.25 a.m.: BJP's Sarbananda Sonowal is leading in Majuli (ST) constituency against his Congress rival MLA Rajib Lochan Pegu by 1,510 votes after the first round of counting of votes. PTI
9.20 a.m.: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is leading over his nearest BJP rival Kamakhya Prasad Tasa by over 405 votes in the first round of counting of postal ballots in the key constituency of Titabar, PTI reports.
9.10 a.m.: According to Election Commissioner's data from postal ballots: BJP is leading in Dibrugarh, Moran, Lahoal and Tingkhong.
8.55 a.m.: Tarun Gogoi wishes best to Mr. Sonowal as he leads in his constituency, reports NDTV .
8.00 a.m.: Counting of votes begin in 51 counting centres across the state amidst tight security. > Read more
7.57 a.m.: Meanwhile, BJP chief ministerial candidate, Sarbananda Sonowal was seen offering prayer at Uttar Kamalabari Satra Temple in Majuli, reports ANI.
7.50 a.m.: "Exit polls were wrong, we will get 30 to 40 seats. I am confident," says Badruddin Ajmal to ANI.
7.30 a.m.: "I don't accept exit polls, even previously exit polls have proven wrong," says Tarun Gogoi to NDTV .
The result will decide fate of of 525 candidates with the ruling Congress, the BJP-AGP-BPF alliance and the AIUDF. Congress is contesting in 57 seats, the opposition AIUDF in 47, and the BJP in 35 while its allies the Bodo Peoples’ Front and the Asom Gana Parishad are in the running in 10 and 19 respectively. The CPI(M) is contesting in nine seats, the CPI in five.
The prominent candidates are cabinet ministers Rakibul Hussain, Chandan Sarkar and Nazrul Islam for the Congress, former two-time AGP Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, AIUDF chief and Dhubri MP Badruddin Ajmal and former Congress minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who led a dissidence against the Chief Minister and joined BJP last year.
Exit poll predicts win for BJP in Assam
According to the exit polls aired by TV channels on Monday, a thumping win for the BJP in Assam is in the making. While the India Today-Axis My India gave the BJP and its allies 79-93 seats, NewsX-Today’s Chanakya gave the NDA 90 seats, the ABP-Nielsen survey gave the party 81 seats while the Times Now -C Voter poll gave the party 57 seats. > Read more
Voter's turnout
The two-phase election that concluded on May 11 saw an > 85 per cent voter turnout , highest ever for the State. Traditionally, the north-eastern States have had a higher voter turnout in the Assembly elections than the rest of India.
5 reasons why Assam election matters
