Guwahati: Wealth continues to dominate Assam’s electoral landscape, with 39% of candidates in the 2026 Assembly elections declaring assets above ₹1 crore, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms. The analysis, based on affidavits of 722 candidates, shows that 285 contestants fall in the crorepati category—up from 28% in the 2021 elections—highlighting the growing influence of money power in state politics.
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The report also indicates a sharp rise in overall wealth, with the average assets per candidate increasing to ₹3.25 crore from ₹2.10 crore in 2021. Collectively, candidates have declared assets worth ₹2,352 crore. A closer look reveals stark disparities: 13% of candidates have assets exceeding ₹5 crore, while 15% fall in the ₹2–5 crore range. Around 24% have assets between ₹50 lakh and ₹2 crore, and 23% between ₹10–50 lakh. At the lower end, 25% of candidates have assets below ₹10 lakh.
Among major parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party leads, with 88% of its candidates being crorepatis, followed by the Indian National Congress at 61%, and the All India United Democratic Front at 53%. The richest candidate is Congress’s Rahul Roy with assets exceeding ₹261 crore, followed by AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal with over ₹226 crore, and Congress candidate Jayanta Khaund with more than ₹67 crore. At the other extreme, a few candidates reported negligible or zero assets, underscoring a wide economic gap. The ADR report highlights the persistent role of financial strength in shaping electoral representation in Assam.
