Assam Assembly Election 2026: Plan to mark UP–Bihar residents as local voters?

With political temperatures rising ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi have levelled serious allegations against the state government and the ruling BJP. The opposition leaders claim that the government is attempting to influence the electoral outcome by bringing in voters from outside the state.

According to their statements, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has “realised that Assamese people will not vote for him,” prompting an alleged plan to “win the 2026 election using people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.” They further alleged that individuals from these states would be presented as migrant workers and shown as temporarily residing in single households across various constituencies.

The opposition also described this alleged strategy as a “game-changing decision,” claiming that the BJP aims to create more than 10,000 new voters in every constituency. They linked their concerns to issues surrounding the SR, saying the developments raise questions about the transparency and integrity of the voter registration process.

As the allegations gained political traction, the Election Commission of Assam issued a detailed clarification, refuting fears of arbitrary voter inclusion. In its statement, the Commission emphasized that only individuals who are ordinarily residing in Assam with long-term intent may transfer their names to polling stations in the state through Form-8, even if they were previously registered in another state.

The Commission reiterated that each application undergoes verification according to the prescribed rules before approval.

Additionally, the EC clarified that voters who have already been registered in Assam but have shifted residence due to eviction or other circumstances may apply to transfer their names to their new polling station through Form-8. It further assured that registered voters have no reason to fear unnecessary removal from the voter list.

The Commission appealed for the cooperation of voters and all concerned stakeholders to ensure the smooth conduct of the ongoing Special Revision process.

With the 2026 elections approaching, the political landscape in Assam continues to heat up, with both accusations and official clarifications shaping public discourse. The state government and ruling BJP are yet to issue an official response to the allegations.

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