Assam assembly elections 2026: From eviction drives to NRC debate, issues set to dominate state poll campaign | India News

With the schedule for the Assam Assembly elections now announced, a range of key issues such as evictions, encroachment and development projects are expected to dominate the campaign rhetoric of political parties in the run-up to the polls.The BJP currently has 64 MLAs in the 126-member Assam Legislative Assembly. Among his allies, nine MLAs from the Assam Gana Parishad (AGP), seven from the United People’s Party Liberals (UPPL) and three from the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF).In the opposition, the Congress has 26 MLAs, followed by the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) with 15. The CPI(M) and an Independent each have one member in the Assembly.eviction: The state government’s policy of evicting alleged squatters, many of whom belong to the Muslim community, is expected to emerge as a key campaign issue, likely to be raised by both the ruling coalition and the opposition during the election campaign.Another major point of contention is the government’s crackdown on child marriage, which has led to numerous arrests and cases filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. The ruling coalition is expected to project the moves as an important step to address the social menace, while the opposition is likely to accuse the government of targeting the Muslim community, as quoted by PTI.The ruling coalition is expected to highlight its efforts to recover forest land, satra and temple properties and other government lands from alleged encroachment. Opponents, however, can transform the operation into a humanitarian crisis, pointing to the devastation that has left many people homeless and forced to live on the streets, some even losing their livelihoods.penetration: Illegal immigration is another long-standing issue in Assam that will figure prominently in the election campaign. The issue has been at the center of politics in the state for decades and was a key factor behind the Assam movement and the subsequent signing of the Assam Accord as cited by PTI.The BJP-led government claims that it has taken steps to implement the provisions of the agreement. The opposition, however, is expected to highlight the government’s failure to fulfill its commitment to provide constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to preserve and promote the cultural, social and linguistic identity of the indigenous Assamese people.Two key issues linked to the immigration debate, the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the updating of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), are likely to feature prominently during the campaign. The ruling party is expected to argue that opposition to the CAA is misplaced, noting that only a limited number of Hindus from Bangladesh have applied for citizenship under the law.Development Schemes/Welfare Schemes: The state government is expected to unveil major development initiatives in Assam, especially road, railway, airport and waterway infrastructure projects. It is also likely to showcase investments like the Tata Semiconductor unit and other deals signed during the second edition of the ‘Advantage Assam’ business summit. Opponents, however, will argue that development has been concentrated in select areas and has come at the expense of indigenous communities, alleging that their land has been acquired for such projects.The BJP and its allies are likely to emphasize the state government’s welfare schemes for women, including monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,250, support for women entrepreneurs and various health initiatives. With women comprising almost half of the electorate, the opposition claims that crime against women has not decreased and that the distribution of benefits has been uneven.The ruling coalition will also highlight its recruitment drive across government departments, which has resulted in the recruitment of more than 1.6 lakh youth. Also, it is likely to focus on welfare measures for tea plantation workers, a large voting bloc that traditionally supported the Congress but has largely shifted allegiance to the BJP since 2016.Death of Zubin Garg: Another issue that attracted significant attention was the death of popular singer Zubin Garg in Singapore in September 2025, followed by demands for justice for his alleged murder. Opposition parties are expected to accuse the BJP-led government of its lack of commitment to ensure justice in the case. The ruling dispensation, however, is likely to mention that it has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), arrested the accused and the matter is currently before the court.