Assam held its 126-member Legislative Assembly elections on April 9, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma seeking a second full term in office. Early trends showed him leading in the Jalukbari constituency.
Sarma has been the most watched figure in this year's contest, having been in politics for over three decades. Born in 1969 in Jorhat, Assam, he entered politics through the Indian National Congress and served as a minister handling key departments.
The Jalukbari constituency has served as Sarma's political base for twenty-five years, with him first contesting the seat in 1996 but losing to Bhrigu Kumar Phukan of the Asom Gana Parishad. He won the seat as a Congress candidate in 2001 and has remained undefeated since.
In the latest contest, Sarma faced challengers including Ramen Chandra Borthakur of the Raijor Dal and Bidisha Neog of the Congress alliance. Neog focused her campaign on direct voter outreach and emotional local issues, including 'Justice for Zubeen,' referring to the popular Assamese singer Zubeen Garg who died in a scuba diving accident in September 2025.
