Major National & Assam Regional Parties Participating in Assam Assembly Election 2021

The Following are some national & regional parties fielded their candidates in upcoming Assam Assembly Election 2021. Check & click here more about each party.

1. BJP, Congress, AIUDF, AGP,
2. Raijor Dal, AJP, UPPL,
3. BPF, AGM, CPI & CPI-M

Assam Assembly Election, 2021 will be held in three phases from March 27 till April 6. Phase-I polling would be held on March 27 for 47 constituencies. Polling for Phase-II would be held on April 1 for 39 constituencies and Phase –III or the final phase of Assam elections would be held on April 6 for 40 constituencies. The elections would be held for the Assam Assembly that constitutes 126 seats. Any party has to have 64 seats (the required majority) to form the government.

The elections are being held as the term of the 14^th Assam Legislative Assembly would end on May 31, 2021. The BJP-led Assam government under the Chief Ministership of Sarbananda Sonowal had formed the government on June 1, 2016 after winning the Assam Assembly polls of 2016.

BJP came to power in  Assam in 2016 after it registered a thumping victory winning 60 of the 126 Assembly seats. Congress managed to win only 26 seats, down from a stupendous score of 78 that the 'grand old' party had won in 2011 Assam Assembly elections.

National & & Regional Parties of Assam

The major national and regional parties which would contest the upcoming Assam Assembly Elections are:

1. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
2. Asom Gana Parishad (AGP)
3. Indian National Congress (INC)
4. All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF)
5. Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP)
6. Raijor Dal (RD)
7. Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM)
8. United People's Party Liberal (UPPL)
9. Bodoland People's Front (BPF)
10. Communist Party of India (CPI)
11. Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M)
12. National People's Party (NPP)

Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP):

The year 2014 was the game changer year for not just BJP as a political party but for the whole nation. After its impressive victory in the General Elections of 2014 where it won 282 of the 543 followed by the party's landslide victory in 2019 (winning 303 seats), it has been BJP across India barring a few states where Congress managed to form governments. In Assam, BJP won 7 seats out of 14 in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and consecutively in the 2016 Assam Assembly Elections, they emerged victorious by winning 60 seats, just 4 less of the majority mark to form the government in the state. BJP managed to gain 86 seats after its allies AGP and BPF won 14 and 12 seats respectively. This is the third time that a non-Congress government was formed in Assam in 2016 after AGP (Assam's first regional party born post the Assam agitation) had formed its government twice from 1985 to 1989 and again from 1996 to 2001.

Bharatiya Jana Sangh is the root of today's BJP. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee established it in the year 1951. This Janata Party was an amalgamation of various parties during the period of emergency of 1977. Though it faced a loss in the beginning, it didn't lose hope, and ultimately, it rose to power henceforth. In the year 1966, the BJP became the most significant and huge party in the Parliament. At present, the Legislative Assemblies in at least 18 states are under the hold of the Bharatiya Janta Party. These states include Assam, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Tripura, and Haryana. BJP is not the majority party in many states but are part of the ruling alliance.

The ideology followed by this party is 'hindutva' which implies the values of Hinduism as incorporated in the Indian culture. The party gained immense support after passing the decision of building a Hindu temple in Ayodha, which is a sacred place for the Hindu religion but, it was occupied by the Babri Masjid. However, the destruction of the Masjid created immense hatred towards the BJP and also led to extreme violence. This created uncertainty in terms of secularism for the party. To regain lost ground and popularity, the party started a few religious marches called 'rathyatras'.

In the upcoming Assam Assembly elections 2021, BJP is hopeful of winning 100 plus seats in the 126 member assembly. The BJP has impressed the public by adopting new strategies like reaching out to the people and collecting public opinion about the schemes and policies of the BJP-led government in the state in a bid to understand and address their grievances and demands.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also launched several connectivity projects called Mahabahu- Brahmaputra worth Rs 9,500 crore for Assam. PM Modi has also launched several water-connectivity projects in Assam. The government has already provided Rs 2.5 lakhs each to around 8000 Namgarhs for their upgradation and better upkeep. Assam Health, Finance and Education Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has already provided scooties to over 22,000 girl students who secured first division in Higher Secondary exams. He has also promised that if he wins the upcoming election of 2021, he will provide Royal Enfield (bullet) bikes or Splendor bikes to the boy students. Recently, they have also provided land pattas to over one lakh indigenous landless people of the state. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal expressed confidence that the people are with the BJP and has ensured equitable development of the people living in the two valleys of Brahmaputra and Barak.

The rule of BJP comprises a series of policies related to the economy and also aims at promoting 'hindutva'. This party also introduced demonetization in the year 2016, where notes of 500 and 1000 were stopped resulting in the usage of new currencies by the government. Such an initiative was taken with the intention of stoping 'black money. Also, this decision has led to an increase in the income tax base because of more bank activity. It also gave direction to cashless transactions. Another remarkable step taken by this party was the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST).

ASOM GANA PARISHAD (AGP) :

Asom Gana Parishad is a regional political party in Assam led by Atul Bora who is also the Agriculture Minister of the state. AGP came into existence after the agitation of 1980s fought to liberate the state from illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. It was formally established in the year 1985 at the Golaghat Convention. When AGP came to power for the first time in 1985, Assam got its youngest Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta who was a student leader and had taken active part in the Assam agitation. He was also a signatory of Assam Accord of 1985, a landmark document for the people of Assam. AGP formed government in Assam twice – first from 1985 to 1989 and again from 1996 to 2001.

According to the latest reports, AGP, throughout Assam, has some harcore loyalists and the party's ally BJP is expected to once again benefit from this.

One interesting development this election is that Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, the former CM of Assam and a senior AGP leader has not been given ticket. Mahanta has been contesting from the Barhampur seat (polls for this seat would be held in phase I, March 27) but this time the party has given the seat to BJP. Mahanta has been vocal against the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (INC) :

After the demise of Tarun Gogoi, three-time former CM of Assam and one of Congress party's tallest leaders from Assam, there are serious concerns about the number of seats the party would be able to win this election. Nilamani Sen Deka, Gogoi's former finance minister said that his death is regarded as a 'Black Day' for Assam and Congress as well. Gogoi's demise in October, 2020 left just five months for the party to get its act together and put up a tough fight in the polls.

The Congress is all gearing up for Assam Assembly Election, 2021, by reminding people what Congress did under their leadership whereas, BJP had failed to meet people's wishes in the past five years. For the forthcoming election, they are also making people's manifestos to take the public into confidence that Congress will not implement CAA in Assam. Party leader Rahul Gandhi mentioned that once they win the forthcoming election, they will build an anti- CAA memorial. The leader also said that they would build a memorial to "commemorate the martyrdom of anti CAA agitation protestors who sacrificed their lives to save Assamese pride". As part of the poll campaign, party's general secretary Priyanka Gandhi visited the state and was seen plucking tea leaves with the tea garden workers of Assam. The Congress has promised five guarantees – a law to nullify CAA, five lakh government jobs, upto 200 units of free electricity, Rs 2000 as 'grihini samman' to all housewives and an increased Rs 365 per day wages to every tea garden worker.

The Indian National Congress has its roots since the period of British imperialism. It was established in the year 1885, making it the initial nationalist movement during British rule. The Father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi, was one of the most renown leaders of this party. Hence, the Congress party became a pioneer in the fight for the independence of the country.

Its domain in India is equivalent to the ruling party of BJP. The principle of INC is based on Sarvodaya, the Gandhian principle. It implies the betterment of the economically deprived citizens of the country. The establishment of the Union Government of India was initiated by the Congress party after the country's independence. It also led to the formation of many state governments of the country. A total of six Prime Ministers of the country were from the Congress party. The first Prime Minister from this party was Jawarharlal Nehru, and the latest was Manmohan Singh. However, it did not do well in the elections of 2014 and 2019, where it faced a loss against the ruling government of BJP. Sonia Gandhi has performed the role of the President of the party for the longest period of time. The beliefs of the Congress party lies in equality, secularism and freedom.

The congress party has various sub-sections, such as youth and women's groups. Also, a daily newspaper 'Herald' is published by INC. It always extended its support to the socialist economic policies and secular policies that promote equal rights even for people that belong to lower castes.

This election, the Congress party is all geared up to take over the realm. They have put forward 40 candidates for the three-phase election. Rupjyoti Kurmi will stand for Mariani and Roselina Tirkey for Sarupather. For the seat of Golaghat, BitupanSaikia, a former member of BJP, is contesting. Similarly, the former member of Congress, Ajanta Neog, who has joined BJP, is contesting for the same seat of Golaghat. For Majuli, the Congress party has put forward the candidature of Rajib LochanPegu. Rana Goswami will contest for the seat of Jorhat. The other major seats for which INC is fighting are Tezpur, Dibrugarh and Digboi. For these seats, Anuj Kumar Mech, Rajkumar Nilanetra Neog and Sibanath Chetia are up for the contest respectively. In short, the Congress party is giving all their efforts to win the upcoming election of 2021 and defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party.

ALL INDIA UNITED DEMOCRATIC FRONT (AIUDF) :

The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) is a regional political party with its mass base in middle and lower Assam. To note the performance of AIUDF in Assembly elections in the year 2006 and 2011, they showed remarkable growth whereas, in the following years, 2011 to 2016, they continued to be virtually stagnant. The concentrated amount of AIUDF voters are immigrant Muslims from Dhubri and Nagaon districts, where the Muslim population is nearly about 80% and 55% respectively. AIUDF could not influence many voters from upper Assam and the hill areas.

For the upcoming Assembly elections, AIUDF has joined the 'Mahajot' or the grand alliance along with Congress, Anchalik Gana Morcha, Left parties and others. The Mahajot is looking at winning 101 plus seats.

Maulana Badruddin Ajmal founded this party in the year 2005. Earlier, it was known as Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF). It was in the year 2009 when it was launched again as a national party in New Delhi with Badruddin Ajmal as the party leader. The headquarter of this party is in Guwahati. In the election of 2011, AIUDF won 18 seats out of the 126 seats in the election of the Legislative Assembly. In the later election of 2016, the party had a victory of 13 seats.

The AIUDF party has a vast vote base from the Bengali origin Muslim community of Assam. Their main objective is to eliminate BJP from being the ruling party. Ajmal has become MP three times from the Dhubri constituency. Ajmal believes that BJP is applying a dirty formula of divide and rule in the state.

ASSAM JATIYA PARISHAD (AJP):

Assam Jatiya Parishad is a newly formed party. The party's agenda is to coordinate with the people of Assam irrespective to fulfil their aspirations and prevent communal and anti-Assam forces. The party backed by All Assam Students Union (AASU) and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) was formed in September 2020 in Guwahati. Former AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi is the president of the party and would be contesting the polls from two constituencies – Duliajan and Naharkatia. General secretary of the party, Jagadish Bhuyan would be contesting from Sadiya.

The party's motto is Assam First, Always and Forever. With the slogan 'ghore, ghore aami' (we are in every household), the party formed as an outcome of the CAA agitation hopes to win over 100 seats. The party has joined hands with Raijor Dal for the the upcoming polls.

RAIJOR DAL :

Raijor Dal too was formed months before the Assam Elections 2021. The party was announced on October 2, 2020. Jailed KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi is the president of the party and Bhasco de Saikia is the working president. The party was launched while Gogoi was still in jail.
Gogoi would be contesting from the Sibsagar seat. The party plans to contest 18 of the 86 seats in Phase I and II of the upcoming elections. Of the 18 candidates announced so far, 12 would contest in Phase I (March 27) and the remaining 6 would contest in Phase II (April 1).

From Rabha constituency, Rubul Das is up for the contest which is reserved for scheduled caste. Jitul Deka will contest for the Kamalpur constituency and Anup Saikia is up for the seat of Bihpuri.

ANCHALIK GANA MORCHA (AGM) :

Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM) also known as 'Regional People's Front' was formed in June, 2020 with the aim to cast out BJP from Assam in the upcoming State elections. It is a regional party formed by veteran journalist turned politician and Rajya Sabha member Ajit Bhuyan. The AGM had joined the 'Mahajot' or the Grand Alliance with the Congress, AIUDF, Left parties and other to fight the elections.

UNITED PEOPLE'S PARTY LIBERAL (UPPL) :

UPPL is another regional party in Assam that took part in 2020 BTC Election under the presidency of Pramod Boro. The party formed the government in BTR along with two other political parties, BJP and GSP defeating Hagrama Mahilary - led BPF. The party has joined hands with BJP for the upcoming Assam Assembly Elections. The party has announced two candidates so far for Phase I of the polls. Gobinda Ch Basumatary, who is also the deputy Chief Executive Member of BTC would be contesting the polls from the Udalguri constituency and Ratendra Daimary would be contesting from the Mazbat constituency. Voting for this phase would be held on March 27. UPPL had won 12 seats of the total 40 seats in the BTC polls. The main vision of the party is to ensure equal development of all people living in Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).

BODOLAND PEOPLE'S FRONT (BPF) :

Another political party of BTR is the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) led by Hagrama Mohilary. The party had ruled BTC for 17 years and was an ally of the BJP in the Assam Assembly elections of 2016. is all gearing up to contest for the upcoming Assam Assembly Poll, 2021. In the current Assam Government, the BPF is BJP's coalition partner with its 12 MLAs in the 126 member House. But in a recent development the party has joined hands with the Congress-led grand alliance and would be fighting the upcoming Assembly polls with the alliance partners.

CPI & CPI - M

The Left parties have joined the grand alliance led by the Congress and would be contesting the polls along with the other alliance partners -- AIUDF, BPF and AGM. The reason behind the grand alliance is to defeat the present BJP government.