Assam election winners see surge in public support, ADR report finds

Guwahati: Winning candidates in the recent Assam Assembly elections secured significantly higher voter support compared to the 2021 polls. A report released by the Association for Democratic Reforms and Assam Election Watch shows that voter turnout climbed to 86.25 per cent this year, up from 82.24 per cent in the previous cycle.

Successful candidates achieved an average of 58.11 per cent of valid votes cast, an increase from 54.08 per cent in the last election. Out of 126 total winners, 110 secured more than half of the votes in their respective constituencies. Elected representatives now account for an average of 50.12 per cent of all registered voters, signaling a shift toward stronger mandates across the state.

The BJP led the performance charts with a total vote share of 37.81 per cent, followed by Congress at 29.84 per cent. BJP candidates dominated the top individual performances, with Kaushik Rai reaching 81.49 per cent in Lakhipur. In contrast, the lowest winning vote shares were recorded by candidates from Congress, the BPF, and the Trinamool Congress, all falling below 44 per cent.

The data also tracks candidates with criminal backgrounds, noting that 16 of the 21 winners with declared cases still secured a majority of the vote. Despite the widespread gains in voter participation, the report indicates that women remain underrepresented in the legislative body, with only seven candidates winning their seats.