Assam Hits Record 85.38% Turnout as Exit Polls Show BJP Leading in Guwahati Seats

Context The single‑phase election on April 9 covered all 126 constituencies in the state. Counting will occur on May 4. Voter enthusiasm peaked at 85.38%, the highest ever for Assam, reflecting heightened political engagement across urban and rural areas.

Key Facts - Turnout in Guwahati Central, the city’s commercial core, reached 76.07%; New Guwahati posted 72.37%. - Axis My India’s exit poll forecasts the BJP winning between 88 and 100 seats, while the Congress is expected to secure 24 to 36 seats. - Both Guwahati Central and New Guwahati are newly created seats; their predecessor areas were previously held by the BJP. - Leading candidates include BJP’s Vijay Kumar Gupta in Guwahati Central and Diplu Ranjan Sarmah in New Guwahati, each facing multi‑cornered contests.

What It Means The record turnout suggests voters are keen to influence the state’s direction, especially on urban issues such as traffic congestion, flood management, and job creation. Exit‑poll projections place the BJP in a commanding position, potentially securing a third consecutive term for Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. For the Congress, the numbers underline the challenge of breaking the BJP’s urban foothold.

The Guwahati constituencies will serve as a barometer for urban sentiment in the Northeast. Close monitoring of the final count will reveal whether the BJP’s projected dominance translates into actual seats, or if shifting expectations in a rapidly expanding city alter the political calculus.

What to watch next: The official results on May 4 will confirm whether the BJP’s projected seat range holds, and how the new Guwahati seats influence the balance of power in Assam’s Assembly.