Guwahati, May 4: Congress candidate Gaurav Gogoi was defeated in the Jorhat Assembly constituency of Assam on May 4, losing to Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Hitendra Nath Goswami by a margin of 23,182 votes, according to the Election Commission of India.
Goswami secured 69,439 votes, while Gogoi polled 46,257 as counting concluded in what had been one of the most closely watched contests in Upper Assam.
The result comes amid a broader surge by the BJP, which is heading towards a decisive return to power in the state. Trends throughout the day showed the party moving well past the majority mark in the 126-member Assembly, signalling a strong consolidation of support.
According to early figures, the BJP was leading in 79 seats, while the Indian National Congress trailed with leads in 23. The Bodoland People’s Front and the Asom Gana Parishad were ahead in 10 and nine seats respectively. Smaller parties, including the All India United Democratic Front, Raijor Dal and the United People’s Party Liberal, registered limited gains.
The scale of the BJP’s lead indicates a mandate extending beyond incumbency, with analysts pointing to consolidation of key voter segments across regions.
For Congress, the outcome marks a significant setback. Despite organisational changes and an aggressive campaign, the party struggled to regain lost ground, particularly in Upper Assam constituencies.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the BJP headquarters in New Delhi later in the day, as party leaders prepare to mark strong electoral gains in Assam and other states.
