Guwahati, April 5: The Dhemaji Assembly constituency is gearing up for polling on April 9 in the single-phase Assam Legislative Assembly elections 2026, with counting scheduled for May 4, as the seat witnesses a competitive contest between the ruling alliance and a consolidated opposition front.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party, Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People’s Front, is aiming for a third consecutive term in Assam. Meanwhile, the opposition alliance led by the Indian National Congress, along with parties such as the Assam Jatiya Parishad and Raijor Dal, is attempting to consolidate anti-incumbency sentiment.
The BJP has fielded sitting MLA Ranoj Pegu, who is seeking re-election from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) reserved seat. He faces a key challenge from Congress candidate Sailen Sonowal. Other candidates include Narendra Kumar Paw of the All India Trinamool Congress, Lalit Pegu of Voters Party International, Lilimai Doley of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist), and Independent candidate Babul Sonowal.
Dhemaji, largely an agrarian constituency, continues to grapple with recurring floods and erosion caused by rivers such as the Jiadhal, along with infrastructure gaps and limited employment opportunities. These issues have placed development and disaster management at the centre of the electoral narrative.
The BJP has retained the seat for the past two terms and is seeking a third straight victory. In the 2021 Assembly elections, Ranoj Pegu secured 87,681 votes, defeating Assam Jatiya Parishad’s Chittaranjan Basumatary, who polled 56,889 votes, while Sailen Sonowal of the Congress received 44,832 votes. The constituency had over 2.38 lakh registered voters, with a turnout of 81 per cent.
In 2016, BJP candidate Pradan Baruah had won the seat with 69,592 votes against Congress’s Sumitra Doley Patir, who secured 50,471 votes, with a voter turnout of 80.7 per cent.
As polling day approaches, Dhemaji is being closely watched to assess whether voters will back continuity under the NDA or shift support towards the opposition alliance, making it a key indicator of electoral trends in the region.
