New Delhi, April 4: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday identified Barak Valley as a crucial battleground for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as it pursues an ambitious target of 90–100 seats in the 126‑member Assam Assembly. With polling set for April 9 and results due on May 4, Sarma said gains in the valley could be decisive for the party’s overall tally.
The BJP first ended Congress’s 15‑year rule in Assam in 2016 and consolidated power in the Northeast with ally support. Since then, the party has repeatedly stalled at about 60 seats on its own, well short of a solo majority, a pattern it aims to break this election.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls — held after the Election Commission’s delimitation exercise in the state — the BJP retained the Karimganj and Silchar parliamentary seats. The party also led in four of the six assembly segments that make up Karimganj and in six of the seven Vidhan Sabha seats within Silchar, signaling stronger footholds in parts of Barak Valley.
The upcoming assembly election will be the first state poll conducted after the reorganisation of constituencies. Before delimitation, Congress and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) were the dominant forces in the region. According to the 2011 Census, Barak Valley had a population of just over 3.6 million: Hindus numbered over 1.8 million, Muslims about 1.7 million, Christians roughly 58,000 and others the remainder — roughly 50% Hindu, 48.1% Muslim, 1.6% Christian and 0.3% others.
District‑level figures from 2011 show Hindus forming around 60% of Cachar’s population and Muslims about 38%. In Silchar, the split was reported at roughly 72% Hindu and 26.4% Muslim. Hailakandi district had a Muslim majority of 60.3%, and Karimganj (renamed Sribhumi) stood at 56.3% Muslim. Notably, Hailakandi and Karimganj towns were recorded as Hindu‑majority urban centres, at about 67.3% and 86.6% respectively.
Locally, the BJP made significant gains in last year’s rural elections, sweeping Cachar and Sribhumi and sharing Zila Parishad seats evenly in Hailakandi. Political strategists warn that vote‑splitting — whether by independent candidates or because Congress and AIUDF are contesting separately — could prove decisive. Sarma has cautioned against fragmentation of core vote blocs, noting that even small splits could benefit the opposition alliance.
The final verdict on whether Barak Valley helps the BJP meet its 90–100 seat goal will be revealed when results are declared on May 4. IANS
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/04/04/assams-barak-valley-likely-to-witness-a-close-contest-on-april-9/
Category: NATIONAL,News Alert,REGIONAL
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-04-04 20:40:00
