From NRC to Zubeen Garg’s Death – Key Issues to Dominate Assam Election 2026 Campaign

Assam Elections 2026: As Assam prepares for its Assembly elections, key campaign issues will revolve around illegal immigration, eviction drives, and development initiatives.

Assam election is set to be held on April 9. (Image: AI Generated)

Infiltration, eviction drives, and development projects are set to dominate the campaign narrative as political parties gear up for the Assam Assembly elections, with both the ruling alliance and opposition sharpening their positions on key issues.

Assembly elections in Assam will be held on a single day on April 9 and votes will be counted on May 4. The model code of conduct has come into effect immediately with the announcement of the poll schedule. There are 126 assembly seats, and the BJP has been in power in the Northeastern state since 2016. Himanta Biswa Sarma has been the chief minister since 2021.

Assam Assembly Election: Key Issues

Infiltration: The issue of illegal immigration has remained central to Assam’s politics for decades, tracing back to the Assam agitation and the Assam Accord. The BJP-led government says it has taken steps to implement the accord, while opposition parties argue that promises to safeguard the cultural, social and linguistic identity of indigenous Assamese people remain unfulfilled. The opposition is also expected to accuse Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of targeting genuine Indian citizens under the guise of pushing back illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, particularly in Muslim-majority constituencies. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) are likely to feature prominently, with the ruling side defending the CAA and the opposition maintaining its criticism.

Eviction: Eviction of alleged encroachers, many from the Muslim community, is expected to be another key campaign issue. The ruling alliance will highlight its efforts to reclaim forest, satra, temple and government land. In contrast, opposition parties are likely to describe the exercise as a humanitarian crisis, citing demolition of homes and loss of livelihoods for displaced families.

Crackdown on child marriage: The state government’s action against child marriage, which has led to multiple arrests and cases under the POCSO Act, will also come under focus. The ruling alliance will project the crackdown as a major social reform initiative, while the opposition is expected to accuse the government of selectively targeting the Muslim community.

Development and welfare: Development projects and welfare schemes are likely to be a major plank for the BJP and its allies. The government is expected to highlight infrastructure expansion in roads, railways, airports and waterways, along with investments such as the Tata semiconductor unit and agreements from the ‘Advantage Assam’ summit. The opposition, however, will argue that development has been uneven and has come at the cost of indigenous communities through land acquisition. Welfare schemes, particularly financial assistance of Rs 1,250 per month for women, support for women entrepreneurs and health initiatives, will be emphasised by the ruling alliance. The opposition is likely to counter by pointing to concerns over crimes against women and alleged uneven distribution of benefits.

Jobs and tea garden outreach: The BJP-led alliance is also expected to highlight its recruitment drive, which it says has provided government jobs to over 1.6 lakh youths. Additionally, outreach to tea garden workers — a significant voter base that shifted from Congress to the BJP since 2016 — is likely to be a key talking point.

Zubeen Garg’s death: The death of popular singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore in September 2025 and the subsequent demand for justice are also expected to surface during campaigning. Opposition parties are likely to question the government’s intent, while the ruling side will point to the formation of a special investigation team, arrests made and the matter being under judicial consideration.

 

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