BJP scripts historic victory in Samaguri, clinches Behali, Dholai; AGP retains Bongaigon, UPPL wins Sidli
Guwahati, Nov 23: The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) swept the by-elections in Assam, winning all five assembly seats contested on November 13. This clean sweep left Congress and its allies without a single victory, signalling a significant shift in the state’s political dynamics.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won three seats, while its allies—the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL)—secured one seat each. Among the noteworthy results, the BJP made a historic breakthrough in Samaguri, a constituency long considered a bastion of Congress heavyweight Rakibul Hussain since 2001.
BJP candidate Diplu Ranjan Sarma emerged victorious in Samaguri, defeating Congress candidate Tanzil Hussain by an emphatic margin of over 24,423 votes. Diplu Ranjan Sarma secured 81,160 votes while his rival Tanzil Hussain secured 56,737 votes. This win marks a significant milestone for the BJP, as it successfully wrested control of a constituency that had remained under Congress dominance for over two decades.
While detailed vote counts are awaited, Diplu Ranjan Sarma’s decisive victory underscores the BJP’s growing influence in regions traditionally controlled by its rivals.
In Behali, BJP candidate Diganta Ghatowar secured the seat by defeating his nearest rival, Congress candidate Jayanta Borah, by a margin of 9,051 votes. Ghatowar garnered 50,947 votes, while Borah managed 41,896 votes. United Opposition candidate Lakhikanta Kurmi trailed far behind, receiving just 5,093 votes.
In Dholai, BJP candidate Nihar Ranjan Das emerged victorious, defeating Congress candidate Dhrubajyoti Purakayastha by a margin of 9,098 votes. Das secured 69,945 votes, while Purakayastha managed to get 60,847 votes, reflecting another decisive win for the ruling party.
In Bongaigaon, BJP ally AGP candidate Diptimayee Choudhury claimed a landslide victory, defeating Congress rival Brajenjit Singha by a massive margin of 35,164 votes. Choudhury garnered 74,734 votes, while Singha managed to secure 39,570 votes. This win further solidified the NDA’s alliance strength in Assam.
In Sidli, UPPL (another BJP ally) candidate Nirmal Kumar Brahma, won convincingly by defeating BPF candidate Sudho Kumar Basumatary with a margin of 37,016 votes. Brahma secured 95,243 votes, while Basumatary received 58,227 votes. Congress candidate Sanjiv Warie lagged far behind, managing only 7,634 votes.
The Assam by-elections reaffirm the BJP-led NDA’s stronghold in the state, with the results showcasing overwhelming voter confidence in the alliance. For the Congress and its allies, the election outcome serves as a stark reminder of the need for introspection and recalibrating their strategies to remain politically relevant in Assam.
