Guwahati, May 4: Akhil Gogoi of the Raijor Dal has won the Sivasagar assembly seat in Assam, defeating BJP candidate Kushal Dowari by a margin of 17,272 votes.
The Sivasagar constituency, historically a stronghold of leftist and Congress politics, has recently become a battleground for emerging regional forces and national parties. Sivasagar, part of the Jorhat Lok Sabha constituency, symbolizes the changing political landscape of Assam.
Established in 1951, this general (unreserved) assembly seat has participated in all 16 elections held in the state. Historically, the Indian National Congress and leftist parties have dominated here. Congress has won eight times, while the Communist Party of India has secured the seat five times. Additionally, both an independent candidate and Raijor Dal have won once. Notably, the Bharatiya Janata Party has yet to open its account in this constituency, despite performing increasingly well in Lok Sabha elections. This indicates that voters exhibit different political tendencies at the national and state levels.
The 2021 assembly election marked a significant turning point in Sivasagar’s politics. Akhil Gogoi, a prominent figure associated with the farmers’ movement and social issues, defeated BJP candidate Surabhi Rajkhowar by 11,875 votes. Gogoi received 57,219 votes, while the BJP garnered 45,344. This victory was not just an electoral outcome but also a sign of the rise of regional politics.
In the previous 2016 election, Congress’s Pranab Kumar Gogoi narrowly defeated the BJP, with a margin of just 542 votes, indicating the BJP’s gradual foothold in the region. Voter turnout in Sivasagar has consistently been high, with 77.98% participation in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and 81.92% in the 2016 assembly elections. In 2021, approximately 82% of voters cast their ballots, reflecting the area’s political awareness.
For the 2026 elections, a total of 209,976 voters are registered in Sivasagar, an increase of 2,371 compared to 2024. Notably, a revision before 2024 saw an increase of over 58,000 voters, one of the largest in the state. This change could significantly impact the results of upcoming elections.
Regarding social dynamics, Sivasagar is a balanced constituency, with around 17% Muslim voters forming the largest group. Scheduled castes make up approximately 10.27%, while scheduled tribes account for about 5.60%. This diverse social structure complicates electoral strategies, necessitating outreach to every demographic.
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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