Mandir, May 5: The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has secured its first-ever Assembly seat in Assam, marking a notable political development as the party seeks to expand beyond its traditional base. The breakthrough came in the Mandia constituency, where Sherman Ali Ahmed defeated senior Congress leader Abdul Khaleque by a margin of 27,561 votes.
Ahmed polled 1,13,480 votes against Khaleque’s 85,919, signalling a shift in voter preference in a constituency long regarded as a Congress stronghold. The result carries symbolic significance for the Trinamool Congress, providing it with an entry point into Assam’s electoral landscape.
Sherman Ali Ahmed’s victory also reflects his evolving political trajectory and sustained grassroots presence. He was first elected to the Assam Assembly in 2011 from Baghbar as a candidate of the All India United Democratic Front before joining the Congress, where he retained electoral success in 2016 and 2021. His association with the Congress later deteriorated, leading to his suspension over alleged indiscipline, during which he emerged as a critic of the party’s state leadership.
In February 2026, Ahmed joined the Raijor Dal and was appointed its vice-president, initially being fielded as a candidate for Mandia. However, his stint with the party was brief, as he was dropped from the contest following seat-sharing arrangements with the Congress.
His subsequent victory under the Trinamool Congress banner highlights both his individual political influence and the party’s attempt to establish itself as an alternative force in regions historically dominated by the Congress.
For Abdul Khaleque, a former Member of Parliament and an experienced Congress leader, the defeat represents a setback in a constituency once considered a party bastion. More broadly, the Mandia outcome reflects shifting political dynamics in Assam, where candidate-specific appeal and local factors are playing an increasingly decisive role.
While limited to a single seat, the Trinamool Congress’s success in Mandia is likely to be viewed as a strategic foothold as the party explores opportunities to broaden its presence beyond West Bengal.
