Heavy rain fails to dampen surge as Assam logs one of its highest voter turnouts, with sharp regional contrasts shaping the contest.

Polling across 126 constituencies remained largely peaceful, with voters turning out in large numbers despite morning showers. The turnout surpassed previous elections, including 2021 and 2016, continuing a steady upward trend from 75.92 per cent in 2011.

Turnout surge uneven across regions

The rise in voting was not uniform. Lower Assam, which includes 66 seats, recorded an average turnout of about 86.5 per cent. This region has an estimated Muslim voter share of around 42 per cent.

By contrast, Upper Assam, with a significantly lower estimated Muslim population of around 13 per cent, saw turnout at about 81.2 per cent.

The gap becomes sharper at the constituency level. Of the 46 seats that crossed 85 per cent turnout, 38 had an estimated Muslim voter share above 25 per cent. Districts such as Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Goalpara and Dhubri — all with higher Muslim populations — reported turnout above 90 per cent in several areas.

Dalgaon in Darrang recorded the highest turnout at 94.6 per cent, with an estimated Muslim voter share of around 95 per cent.

However, the trend was not uniform. In Barak Valley, despite a relatively high estimated Muslim population, turnout remained lower than Lower Assam averages, indicating that demography alone does not fully explain voting behaviour.

What parties say about high turnout

Both the BJP and the Congress interpreted the high turnout as support for their respective campaigns.

The ruling BJP, seeking a third consecutive term, linked the participation to issues of identity, land protection and its governance record. The party maintained that the scale of turnout reflected public backing for its agenda, including its stance on illegal infiltration and development.

The Congress, aiming to regain power after losing it in 2016, viewed the same turnout as a signal of demand for political change. Its leadership framed the participation as support for new leadership and a different direction for the state.

Observers noted that higher turnout often points to a competitive election rather than a one-sided contest.

Contest centres on where votes surged

The data suggests that the election’s outcome may hinge less on the overall turnout and more on where the voting increase occurred.

Lower Assam’s high-turnout belt includes constituencies where Muslim voters form a significant part of the electorate, and where parties like the Congress and its allies are directly competing. In contrast, areas where the BJP has traditionally been stronger saw relatively lower participation.

A total of over 2.5 crore voters were eligible, with more than 700 candidates in the fray. Final turnout figures are expected after full compilation of polling data.