Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured an absolute majority and recorded a thumping victory in Assam, winning and leading 82 of the total 126 seats, retaining power for a third consecutive term.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, 'This is a historic win because of the kind of majority that we are heading towards. I offer my sincerest thanks to the people of Assam on behalf of BJP and our allies and assure that the promises we have made to you will be fulfilled.'
The BJP won in 69 seats of the 90 it contested and was leading in 13. Its allies, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) were winning and leading in ten seats each, taking the combined tally to 102 seats.
The BJP on its own secured nearly 40% of the total votes while Congress stood at 29%. BJP state president, Dilip Saikia said, 'The results were on expected lines and we hoped to secure over 90 seats. This time BJP has been able to secure an absolute majority on its own, but we will continue to remain with our NDA allies like in the past.'
Other prominent winners from BJP included ministers Pijush Hazarika, Ranoj Pegu, Chandra Mohan Patowary, Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Ajanta Neog, Jayanta Malla Baruah and Bimal Borah.
Winners from AGP include Atul Bora and Keshab Mahanta and from BPF are Sewli Mohilary and Rihon Daimari.
The biggest surprise was the loss of state presidents of several parties, including Congress's Gaurav Gogoi, AJP's Lurinjyoti Gogoi and United People's Party Liberal chief Pramod Boro.
Professor of political science at Dibrugarh University, Kaustubh Deka said, 'The BJP's massive win is validation of the politics that the party plays by creating a large number of beneficiaries with different schemes and by fragmentation or polarisation by playing up identity politics highlighting the threat of illegal migrants.'
