In a significant development in the 2026 Assam Assembly elections, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is firmly ahead in the Jalukbari constituency. As the counting of votes progresses, Sarma has opened a commanding lead over Congress candidate Bidisha Neog by a substantial margin of 55,035 votes after 12 rounds of counting, according to reports from the Election Commission. The counting, which began at 8 am following a polling day on April 9, is set to continue with a total of 18 rounds expected.

Meanwhile, in another notable contest, Congress’ state president Gaurav Gogoi found himself on the losing end against BJP candidate Hitendra Nath Goswami in the Jorhat constituency. Gogoi, who also serves as the Lok Sabha MP for the region, was aiming for his inaugural entry into the state assembly but fell short, losing by a margin of 23,182 votes. Goswami, a veteran politician and five-time MLA, is eyeing his third consecutive term in office, indicating a strong foothold for the BJP in the region.

As per the latest updates from the Election Commission at 2:40 pm, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is reported to be leading in 99 seats across the state, while the Congress-led coalition is trailing with leads in only 23 constituencies. Currently, the BJP is holding a lead in 81 seats, while the Congress stands at 21. To secure a majority in the 126-member Assam Assembly, a party or coalition needs to clinch at least 64 seats.

The voter turnout during this election has been impressive, reaching 85.9%, the highest recorded in Assam’s electoral history. This marks a significant increase from the 82% turnout in the 2021 assembly elections, highlighting the growing engagement of the electorate in the political process. Several exit polls had earlier suggested a favorable outcome for the BJP, and current results seem to align with those predictions.

As the counting continues, the focus remains on how the BJP will consolidate its power and whether the Congress can mount a comeback in the remaining counting rounds. The stakes are high, not just for the parties involved but for the broader political landscape of Assam as it prepares to shape its future through these election results.