Guwahati, March 15 — With the Election Commission of India announcing April 9 as the polling date for the 2026 Assam Legislative Assembly elections, a cluster of politically sensitive issues is set to dominate the campaign trail across the state. Parties are already framing their messages around long-standing concerns such as infiltration and the National Register of Citizens, recent eviction drives, a crackdown on child marriage, development and welfare promises, and the controversy over singer Zubeen Garg’s death in September 2025 in Singapore.
Infiltration remains a central theme. The BJP-led government says it has worked to implement clauses of the Assam Accord, while the opposition contends that promises to protect the cultural, social and linguistic identity of indigenous Assamese have not been fully honoured. Opposition leaders also allege that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s measures have resulted in genuine Indian citizens being “harassed” under the guise of “pushing back” immigrants from Bangladesh. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) update and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) are expected to figure prominently, with the ruling party arguing that criticism of the CAA was misplaced given the small number of Hindus from Bangladesh seeking citizenship.
Eviction drives are likely to inflame voters in affected areas. The state government argues it has reclaimed forest land, satra and temple properties and other government land from encroachers. Opponents describe the operations as a “major humanitarian crisis”, saying demolitions have left many homeless and deprived of livelihoods.
The crackdown on child marriage — including arrests and cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act — will also be a campaign plank. The ruling alliance presents the actions as a necessary step to curb a social evil, while the opposition accuses the administration of disproportionately targeting Muslim communities.
Development projects and welfare schemes form another battleground. The government will spotlight infrastructure work on roads, railways, new airports, waterways, the Tata Group semiconductor unit and deals signed at the second Advantage Assam Summit. It will also point to welfare measures for women, including a monthly stipend of Rs 1,250, support for women entrepreneurs and health initiatives, along with recruitment drives that it says have employed over 1.6 lakh youths. Critics counter that development has benefited select areas and has sometimes come at the cost of indigenous land, that benefits have been uneven, and that crimes against women have not fallen as claimed. The ruling bloc will also seek to consolidate gains among tea garden workers, a sizeable vote bank that shifted away from Congress after 2016.
The death of popular singer Zubeen Garg has become a flashpoint. Opposition parties allege the state government is not keen to ensure justice; the government points to a special investigation team, arrests made and ongoing court proceedings.
The 126-member Assam Assembly is currently dominated by the BJP and its allies — BJP 64, Asom Gana Parishad nine, United People’s Party Liberal seven and Bodoland People’s Front three — while the opposition includes the Indian National Congress (26), All India United Democratic Front (15), one CPI(M) member and one Independent. These fault lines and contested issues are likely to shape voter choices and campaign strategies as parties vie for influence ahead of the April 9 polling.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/from-infiltration-to-zubeen-garg-key-issues-set-to-shape-assam-polls-2026-1609481
Category: Assam,Featured
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Publish Date: 2026-03-15 17:32:00
