NEW DELHI, Feb 2026 : Assembly polls in Assam are likely to be held in a single phase in the first week of April, and the Election Commission may make an announcement in the second week of March, sources have said.
While the BJP is looking to score a hat-trick in the Northeastern state, the Congress would be trying to return to power in Assam, once its bastion.
The BJP, sources have said, has decided to stick to two-time Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and an announcement confirming him as the party’s face for the top post is likely. The party, sources have said, has received feedback from the grassroots that Sarma is popular across the state, and this would help the BJP’s poll prospects.
The BJP, sources said, has also finalised its campaign plan for Assam. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are likely to hold multiple rallies across the state to shore up support for the BJP.
A team of the Election Commission (EC), headed by poll body chief Gyanesh Kumar, arrived in Assam on February 16 for a three-day visit to assess preparedness for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.
The delegation also includes Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
Officials said the EC will hold meetings with representatives of various political parties, senior election authorities, police officials and state regulatory agencies. The poll body is expected to hold detailed review meetings on key aspects such as voter list revision, law and order preparedness, deployment of security forces, polling infrastructure, and the use of technology to ensure free, fair and transparent elections.
The team will also review the status of ongoing electoral reforms, including measures to enhance voter participation, curb the influence of money and muscle power, and strengthen grievance redressal mechanisms.
Special focus is also expected on sensitive and vulnerable polling areas, given Assam’s diverse geography and demographic composition.
The Commission is likely to review preparedness related to remote and riverine polling stations, especially in flood-prone and border areas, to ensure the smooth conduct of elections.
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