As Assam heads toward the 2026 Assembly elections, a familiar alliance strain is beginning to surface. In Guwahati Central—one of the most high-profile urban constituencies created after the 2023 delimitation—a quiet but intense tug of war is unfolding between NDA partners, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP).

Much like the contest brewing in Hailakandi, both allies are staking claim to Guwahati Central, a constituency carved largely out of the erstwhile Gauhati West seat, with added portions from Gauhati East. For AGP, the claim is rooted in legacy and historical dominance; for BJP, it is about electoral numbers, organisational strength, and a dramatically altered political map.

AGP leaders argue that Guwahati Central should naturally fall to them, citing the long electoral dominance of veteran leader Ramendra Narayan Kalita, who represented Gauhati West for six terms, barring 2001. The party insists that despite delimitation, its organisational contribution to the NDA remains substantial and cannot be overlooked.

Kalita himself pushed back against BJP’s claims, saying, “The wards where BJP is strong today were won by alliance candidates. AGP also has its contribution,” underlining the unease within the ally camp.

BJP sees delimitation as a game-changer

The BJP, however, believes the redrawn boundaries have decisively shifted the balance. The inclusion of four wards from East and West Guwahati—areas where the BJP enjoys strong grassroots support—has, according to party leaders, fundamentally changed the constituency’s character.

BJP spokesperson and ticket aspirant Dewan Dhruba Jyoti Maral pointed out that of the 15 municipal councillors in the new constituency, 13 belong to the BJP. “In 2016 and 2021, we supported AGP candidates as alliance partners. But delimitation has altered the nature of the seat. Our grassroots workers are demanding that BJP contest Guwahati Central,” he said.

Maral also stressed the need to promote younger leadership, adding that residents of East Guwahati favour a BJP candidate. Still, he maintained that the party would abide by the central leadership’s final decision.

Internal BJP competition signals high stakes

The constituency’s perceived winnability is evident from the intense competition within the BJP itself. Apart from Maral, leaders Bijay Gupta and Ashok Kumar Bharali are also seeking the party ticket, signalling strong internal interest in what is now seen as a prime urban seat.

Formed after the 2023 delimitation exercise, Guwahati Central (Madhya Guwahati) includes key commercial hubs such as Fancy Bazaar, Paltan Bazaar and AT Road. With nearly two lakh voters, it has emerged as a BJP stronghold, driven largely by an urban, middle-class electorate. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP reportedly secured around 73 per cent of the vote in this segment.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other senior leaders have repeatedly expressed confidence that the BJP-led NDA will sweep all five Kamrup (Metro) seats, crediting delimitation for strengthening the party’s prospects in urban Guwahati.

Congress eyes opportunity amid alliance friction

While the BJP–AGP tussle dominates headlines, the Congress remains a distant but vocal challenger. Assam Congress spokesperson Reetam Singh, who is also seeking the party ticket from Guwahati Central, described the constituency as largely urban and cosmopolitan after delimitation, with sizeable Hindi-speaking and Bengali populations in areas such as Fancy Bazaar, Pan Bazaar, Rehabari, Lachit Nagar and Birubari.

Singh alleged that these areas continue to grapple with chronic issues like irregular water supply, artificial flooding and unplanned urbanisation. He claimed that growing dissatisfaction has set in among voters due to “betrayals” and unfulfilled promises, including the Chief Minister’s assurance of ₹10 crore per ward during the Guwahati Municipal Corporation elections.

Allegations of alienation and urban distress

Singh further argued that localities such as Uzanbazar, Pan Bazaar and Lakhtokia, with substantial Muslim populations, feel increasingly alienated due to what he described as divisive political rhetoric. He also criticised unchecked flyover construction across Guwahati, blaming it for persistent traffic congestion and year-round disruptions to daily life and commerce.

Calling Central Guwahati the commercial hub of the Northeast, Singh alleged that traders and business owners are growing disillusioned due to a perceived “syndicate raj” and extortion practices.

Seat-sharing talks in crucial phase

Seat-sharing negotiations between the BJP and AGP are said to be at an advanced stage, with final decisions expected between mid and late February. Until then, Guwahati Central remains a key pressure point within the NDA—where alliance arithmetic, ambition and legacy collide ahead of a crucial election.

As political manoeuvring intensifies, the constituency stands at the centre of Assam’s pre-poll chessboard, its fate likely to shape not just local outcomes but the broader dynamics of the NDA alliance in the state.

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