Guwahati, March 15 (NationPress) Numerous electorally vital constituencies in Assam are poised to significantly influence the narrative of the upcoming Assembly elections set for April 9. This is due to the candidacy of prominent leaders and the shifting demographic trends impacting electoral behavior.

The state's 126 Assembly constituencies are distributed across four main regions: the Brahmaputra Valley, Barak Valley, the hill districts, and the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). Voting patterns are anticipated to vary across these regions, with Assamese voters, minority groups such as Bengali-speaking and Assamese Muslims, tea-tribe communities, and indigenous tribes emerging as key players in many constituencies.

Among the most notable constituencies is Jalukbari, currently held by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. As a significant political entity in the area, Sarma has secured this seat five consecutive times, including a historic victory margin exceeding 100,000 votes in 2021. He is expected to aim for a sixth consecutive term.

In Upper Assam, Jorhat is expected to witness a fierce battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC). Gaurav Gogoi, the Congress state president, is set to make his debut in the Assembly elections from this constituency, previously represented by the veteran Hitendra Nath Goswami, who served both as an AGP legislator and later as a BJP MLA.

Nazira, tied to Assam’s oil sector and tea plantations, carries the political legacy of the former Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia. Currently, it is represented by Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia, who is seeking to maintain his seat for a fourth consecutive term.

Another closely monitored constituency is Golaghat, represented by Assam’s Finance Minister Ajanta Neog. A five-term legislator since 2001, Neog transitioned from Congress to BJP in 2020 and successfully retained her seat in the 2021 Assembly elections.

Duliajan, influenced by the oil and tea industries, has seen several BJP leaders hold the seat in recent years. Former MLA Rameswar Teli previously represented it before moving to the Rajya Sabha and later serving as a Union minister. The seat is now held by Terash Gowala, who was also elected to the Rajya Sabha.

In the Bodoland region, Panery stands out as another important constituency, currently represented by former Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary. Daimary previously won the seat as a candidate from the Bodoland Peoples’ Front before joining the BJP.

Kokrajhar, a new Assembly seat established after the 2023 delimitation, is expected to gain attention in the BTR region. While the Bodoland Peoples’ Front has a traditional support base here, its NDA ally, the United Peoples’ Party Liberal, is also likely to contest.

Barpeta has experienced significant demographic changes post-delimitation and is currently represented by Congress MLA Abdur Rahim Ahmed. The Congress has nominated Mahananda Sarkar as its candidate for the forthcoming elections.

In the Barak Valley, Silchar remains a politically pivotal constituency. Once dominated by Congress, represented by the late Santosh Mohan Dev and his family, the seat has been under BJP control since 2016.

Samaguri is another key constituency. This seat was long held by Dhubri Lok Sabha MP Rakibul Hussain, who served five terms as MLA before transitioning to Parliament. The BJP won the seat in a by-election after defeating his son, Tanzil Hussain, who has again been nominated by the Congress in the upcoming elections.

Barchalla, located on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra, will see BJP MLA Ganesh Kumar Limbu face off against former Congress Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora.

Dispur, one of the most prestigious constituencies covering parts of Guwahati and its suburbs, is represented by BJP’s Atul Bora. The Congress has fielded Mahila Congress president Mira Borthakur, who joined the party after leaving the BJP during the anti-CAA protests.

With numerous heavyweight candidates in the running and shifting electoral dynamics across regions, these constituencies are anticipated to play a decisive role in determining the results of the forthcoming Assam Assembly elections.