With the schedule for the Assam Assembly elections now out, a host of key issues such as evictions, infiltration and development projects are expected to dominate the campaign rhetoric of political parties ahead of the polls.Assam Assembly has 126 members and currently 64 members are from the BJP. Among its allies, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has nine MLAs, United People’s Party for Liberals (UPPL) seven and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) three.
Among the opposition ranks, the Congress party has 26 MLAs, followed by the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) with 15 MLAs. CPI(M) and Independent Party have one member each in Parliament.expel: The state government’s policy of deporting alleged offenders, many of whom belong to the Muslim community, is expected to become a key campaign issue, with both the ruling coalition and the opposition likely to raise it during the campaign.Another major point of contention is the government’s crackdown on child marriage, which has led to many arrests and prosecutions under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. The ruling coalition is expected to see the measures as an important step in eliminating threats to society, while the opposition is likely to accuse the government of excessively targeting the Muslim community, the Press Trust of India reported.The ruling alliance is also expected to highlight its efforts to reclaim forest land, satras and temple properties and other government lands it has been accused of encroaching on. However, the opposition is likely to view the operation as a humanitarian crisis, noting that the demolitions have left many people homeless and forced to live on the streets, with some losing their livelihoods.infiltration: Illegal immigration is another long-standing issue in Assam that is likely to feature prominently in the election campaign. The issue has been at the heart of national politics for decades and was a key factor behind the Assam riots and subsequent signing of the Assam Accord, the Press Trust of India (PTI) cited.The BJP-led government insists it has taken steps to implement the provisions of the agreement. However, the opposition is expected to highlight the government’s failure to fulfill its commitment to provide constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect and promote the cultural, social and linguistic identity of the indigenous Assamese people.Two key aspects related to the immigration debate, updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), are also likely to become prominent issues during the campaign. The ruling party is expected to argue that it is wrong to oppose the CAA, pointing out that only a handful of Bangladeshi Hindus have applied for citizenship under the law.Development Projects/Welfare Plans: The state government is expected to highlight major development initiatives in Assam, especially infrastructure projects in roads, railways, airports and waterways. It is also likely to showcase investments such as Tata’s semiconductor unit and other agreements signed during the second Assam Advantage business summit. However, the opposition is expected to argue that development is concentrated in selected areas and at the expense of indigenous communities, claiming their land has been expropriated for such projects.The BJP and its allies are also likely to highlight the state government’s welfare schemes for women, including financial assistance of Rs 1,250 per month, support for women entrepreneurs and various health initiatives. With women making up nearly half of the electorate, the opposition is expected to counter that crime against women has not decreased and the benefits are unevenly distributed.The ruling coalition will also highlight its recruitment drive across government departments, with more than 160,000 young people said to have been appointed. Additionally, it is likely to focus on welfare measures for tea garden workers, a sizable voting bloc that has traditionally supported the Congress but has shifted largely to the BJP since 2016.Zubin Garg dies: Another issue that has attracted high attention is the death of popular singer Zubeen Garg in Singapore in September 2025, followed by demands for justice for his alleged murder. Opposition parties are expected to accuse the BJP-led government of lacking commitment to ensuring justice in the case. However, the ruling is likely to state that it constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), arrested the accused and the matter is currently before the court.
