2016 Assam Legislative Assembly election
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
All 126 seats in the Assam Legislative Assembly 64 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Turnout | 84.72% (8.68pp) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seatwise result map of the election | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Structure of the Assam Legislative Assembly after the election | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Assam Legislative Assembly Election of 2016 was held in two phases, on 4 and 11 April 2016, to elect members of the 126 constituencies in Assam, a state in North-eastern India.[1] The overall voter turnout was 84.72%, which set a new record for Assam.[2][3] The turnout was an increase from the 2011 Assembly election figure of 75%.[4]
The counting of votes and results declaration was completed on 19 May 2016. The election brought a change of power as the Indian National Congress (INC), which had formed the government under Tarun Gogoi since 2001, lost its majority to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, lit "Indian People's Party") led by Sarbananda Sonowal. Sonowal became the first elected BJP chief minister in the Northeast, and his victory marked the start of other BJP victories in the Northeast, a region traditionally ruled by regional parties or the INC.
Background
[edit]The prior Assam assembly ended on 5 June 2016.[5] The full bench of the Election Commission headed by Syed Nasim Ahmad Zaidi visited Assam on 21 December 2015.[6] Voter-verified paper audit trails were introduced in 10 constituencies (approximately 2400 polling booths) in Assam assembly polls.[7] These included the four assembly constituencies in Kamrup Metro district: Dispur, Jalukbari, Gauhati East and Gauhati West.[8] 250 polling stations were made model polling stations.[9]
Electoral process
[edit]An update to the National Register of Citizens of India (NRC) was to be completed by 1 January 2016, monitored by the Supreme Court of India.[10][11] By September 2015, the first phase was completed; over 66.90 lakh (6,690,000) households submitted forms linking themselves to either the NRC of 1951 or any of the electoral rolls prior to 24 March 1971. It was to be followed by verifying the applications.
The effort was intended to detect and deport the illegal migrants who came from neighbouring Bangladesh on or after 25 March 1971.[12] Since 1985, Foreigners' Tribunals have declared over 38,000 persons in Assam as illegal migrants. Nearly 1.5 lakh (150,000) names in Assam's electoral rolls carry the prefix "D" for "Doubtful" citizenship status.[13] The Supreme Court directed the Assam Government to complete the final NRC by 1 March 2016.[14][15] In May 2015, the historic India–Bangladesh land swap deal was signed, exchanging long-standing territorial enclaves and simplifying the border.[16]
According to the draft electoral rolls published in October 2015, the total number of voters in Assam stands at 1.92 crores (19.2 million). The Election Commission said that final electoral rolls would be published by 11 January 2016.
Religion data
[edit]According to the 2011 census, 61.5% were Hindus, 34.22% were Muslims.[17][18] Christian minorities (3.7%) are mostly among some of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (SC/ST) population.[19] The Scheduled Tribe population (both ST(Plains) and ST(Hills) combined) in Assam is around 13% of which the Bodo people(an indigenous Assamese community) account for 40% and the Scheduled Caste population is about 7.4% of which the Kaibarta and Jal Keot(both indigenous Assamese communities) combined account for about 36%.[20]
Out of 32 districts of Assam, 11 are Muslim majority according to the 2011 census.[21] The districts are Dhubri, Goalpara, Barpeta, Morigaon, Nagaon, Hojai, Karimganj, South Salmara–Mankachar, Hailakandi, Darrang and Bongaigaon.[22][23][24] Bodos have a population share of 12% and the Kaibarta and Jal Keot have a total share of about 10% (all of which are a part of the indigenous Assamese community).[25] The share of the indigenous Assamese communities in Assam was about 47% in the 2001 census which has reduced to about 40-45% in 2016 as predicted by experts. Indigenous Assamese Muslims, also known as Khilonjia Muslims, include ethnic groups such as Goria and Moria, and are estimated to be around 40 lakhs in population out of a total 1 crore (4 million out of 10 million) Muslims in Assam.[26]
Campaign
[edit]In November 2015, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah held a party workers' rally in Dibrugarh in Upper Assam Division.[27] Union Minister and Lakhimpur MP Sarbananda Sonowal was made Assam BJP chief to head their election committee.[28] Sonowal found the situation of illegal immigration from Bangladesh "very alarming".[29] (Sonowal had led an effort to have the controversial Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) (IMDT) Act struck down by the Supreme court of India in December 2006, making deportations easier.)[30] Himanta Biswa Sarma, a state Congress heavyweight joined BJP.[31] BJP has aimed for 'Mission 84' in Assam.[32][33] BJP led in 69 assembly constituencies in the Lok Sabha elections 2014 by winning 7 Lok Sabha seats in Assam.[34] For the first time, the BJP had contested the Bodoland Territorial Council elections, and won a seat.[35]
In December 2015, Indian National Congress (INC) Vice-President Rahul Gandhi visited Assam where he accused Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS, lit "National Volunteer Organisation") workers of not letting him enter Barpeta Satra temple in Barpeta district.[36] RSS, widely regarded as the parent organisation of BJP, denied the charge. Gandhi announced that Tarun Gogoi would be the chief minister candidate of INC.[37] Demand was growing for giving scheduled tribe (ST) status to six communities – Tai Ahoms, Koch Rajbongshis, Moran, Motok, Sootea and 36 tea tribes (the descendants of tea garden workers settled by British in the state from Chotanagpur plateau in the mid-19th century).[38][39]
In November 2015, nine members of the legislative assembly left the INC and joined BJP.[40] Assam Governor PB Acharya made a controversial statement that Hindustan is only for Hindus.[41] Ex-United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) rebels announced that they would contest Assam polls.[42] On 26 December 2015, BJP's Assam unit launched its 'Assam Nirman' initiative, seeking public opinion to prepare a vision document for development in Assam.[43]
On 28 December 2015, Smriti Irani visited Barak Valley in Assam and accused the Tarun Gogoi government of not doing enough for women's safety.[44][45] Gogoi accused the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government of stalling tactics on granting citizenship to refugees from Bangladesh, claiming that they had been persecuted there.[46] Gogoi said external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj met with businessmen in Assam during her visit instead of talking about the problems and issues confronting the state.[47]
In January 2016, the Gogoi government announced rice prices at Rs 2 per kilogramme and to build all-religion bhawans.[48][49] The Assam INC President ruled-out any alliance with All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) or Asom Gana Parishad (AGP, lit "Assam Peoples Association") parties.[50][51] Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited Assam on 3 January 2016 and said the fencing along the Indo-Bangladesh border would be completed by December 2016.[52][53] A delegation of the All Assam Students Union (AASU) met Singh and visited the border areas. Rajnath Singh visited Dhubri district and expressed dissatisfaction with the fencing work there. He said that a feasibility study and two pilot projects were underway in the Dhubri sector of the riverine border.[54] Gogoi said that 97.32% of the border fencing work in Karimganj and Dhubri was complete and asked the Central Government to take up a pilot project involving technological solutions to plug the riverine border.[55][56]
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Kokrajhar on 19 January 2016, after his visit to Sikkim on 18 January 2016.[57] Modi formally announced the alliance of Bodoland People's Front (BPF) with BJP in Assam.[58]
On 28 January, the BJP Parliamentary Board announced Sarbananda Sonowal as their Chief Ministerial candidate of Assam.[59] Union minister of state for commerce and industry Nirmala Sitharaman accused Gogoi of spreading misinformation on the suspension of the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP), 2007.[60] Ethnic groups of Assam sought ULFA pro-talks faction headed by founding general secretary Anup Chetia to help them receive ST designation.[61][62]
Modi arrived on 5 February to first attend the 85th conference of the Srimanta Sankaradeva Sangha at the erstwhile Ahom capital of Sivasagar. Then he addressed a rally at Moran.[63][64][65] Modi dedicated the Assam gas cracker project at Dibrugarh[66] and inaugurated the 2016 South Asian Games in Guwahati on 5 February.[67]
On 2 March, the BJP announced its alliance with AGP.[68] AGP was given 24 seats.[69] Gogoi announced a special package of Rs 3,000 cr (Rs 30 billion) for Barak Valley.[70] Gandhi visited Assam for two days, 4–5 March 2016, and addressed public meetings in Silchar and Nagaon.[71] On 6 March 2016, INC allied with Bodo-heartland-based United People's Party in a strategy to counter BJP's alliance with BPF.[72]
On 10 March, BJP declared candidates for the first phase of Assam elections.[73] Out of 126 Assembly constituencies, BJP contested 84 constituencies and left 42 to its four National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies: AGP (24), BPF (16), Rabha Jatiya Aikya Manch (1) and Tiwa Jatiya Aikya Manch (1). BJP gave tickets to two ex-militants including Bhaskar Sarma (who was accused of secret killings). On 16 March 2016, Sarbananda Sonowal filed his nomination for the Majuli (ST) assembly seat.[74][75] Modi addressed a rally in Majuli on 23 March 2016.[76] INC released its first list of 65 candidates on 15 March 2016;[77] the second list of 57 candidates was announced on 21 March 2016.[78][79] INC contested 122 seats while its ally United People's Party contested the remaining 4 seats.[80] BJP's Himanta Biswa Sarma filed nomination papers from Jalukbari on 21 March 2016.[81] AIUDF contested around 76 seats while its allies in Assam – Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Janata Dal (United) (JD[U]) – contest 12 seats each.[82] AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal ran for South Salmara seat, while Gogoi ran for the Titabar seat against BJP MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa.[83][84]
On 12 February 2016, the Election Commission of India announced that 10 assembly constituencies in Assam will have 2300 voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines attached along with electronic voting machines (EVMs).[85]
Schedule
[edit]The dates of the election were announced on 4 March 2016. (In previous elections, all 140 constituencies went to polls on the same day.)[86]
The polling was held in two phases, on 4 and 11 April 2016. The counting was scheduled for 19 May 2016 for both phases.[87]
Schedule of polling and results[87] | |
---|---|
Phase 1 | 4 April 2016 |
Phase 2 | 11 April 2016 |
Counting of votes and result | 19 May 2016 |
Assembly constituencies of Assam having VVPAT facility with EVMs[87] | ||
---|---|---|
Silchar | Dhubri | Bongaigaon |
Goalpara East | Jalukbari | Dispur |
Gauhati East | Guahati West | Tezpur |
Jorhat |
Opinion polls
[edit]When conducted | Ref | Polling organisation/Agency | Sample size | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
INC | BJP+ | AIUDF | Other | ||||
April 2016 | [88] | India TV-C Voter | NA | 53 |
55 |
12 |
6 |
March 2016 | [89] | Nielsen | NA | 36 |
78 |
10 |
2 |
March 2016 | [90] | AVC | NA | 40 |
48-54 |
25 |
0 |
January 2016 | [91][92][93] | India TV-C-Voter | NA | 44 |
57 |
19 |
6 |
Exit polls
[edit]Agency | INC+ | BJP+ | AIUDF | Others | Ref.[94] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
News Nation | 47-51 | 63-67 | 7-11 | NA | [95] |
C Voter | 41 | 57 | 18 | 10 | [96] |
Chanakya | 27 | 90 | 9 | NA | [96] |
ABP Nielsen | 33 | 81 | 10 | 2 | [96] |
NDTV Poll of Polls | 37 | 73 | 12 | 4 | [96] |
Voting
[edit]Voter turnout was 84.72%.[97] 87.03% polling was recorded in the second phase, the highest in Assam's history.[98][99] One person was killed by police in Assam.[100] 189 EVMs were replaced in the final phase due to technical issues.[101] A total of 1,064 candidates contested the elections – 122 from INC, 89 from BJP, 74 from AIUDF, 30 from AGP, 13 from the BPF, 15 from CPI, 19 from CPM, 205 others and 497 Independents. The total number of polling stations in Assam was 24,890, spread across 50 election districts.
Result
[edit]Parties and Coalitions | Popular vote | Seats | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vote | % | +/- | Contested | Won | +/- | ||||
Bharatiya Janata Party | NDA | 4,992,185 | 29.5 | 84 | 60 | 55 | |||
Asom Gana Parishad | 1,377,482 | 8.1 | 24 | 14 | 4 | ||||
Bodoland People's Front | 666,057 | 3.9 | 16 | 12 | |||||
Rabha Jatiya Aikya Manch | 1 | 0 | |||||||
Tiwa Jatiya Aikya Manch | 1 | 0 | |||||||
Indian National Congress | UPA | 5,238,655 | 30.9 | 122 | 26 | 52 | |||
United People's Party Liberal | 4 | 0 | |||||||
All India United Democratic Front | G.A | 2,207,945 | 13.0 | 74 | 13 | 5 | |||
Janata Dal (United) | 12,538 | 0.07 | 4 | 0 | |||||
Communist Party of India (Marxist) | Left | 93,508 | 0.55 | 19 | 0 | ||||
Communist Party of India | 37,243 | 0.22 | 15 | 0 | |||||
Independents | 1,867,531 | 11.04 | 496 | 1 | 2 | ||||
Total | 16919364 | 100.0 | 126 | ||||||
Valid votes | |||||||||
Invalid votes | |||||||||
Votes cast / turnout | |||||||||
Abstentions | |||||||||
Registered voters |
Results by Constituency
[edit]Share
[edit]Seat Share
[edit]See also
[edit]- 2016 elections in India
- 2011 Assam Legislative Assembly election
- Bangladeshis in India
- Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act, 1983
- National Register of Citizens of India
References
[edit]- ^ "Assembly polls in Assam: Why it's the most interesting electoral battle of 2016". Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- ^ "Heavy polling points to polarisation". Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "More than 90 per cent turnouts mark aggressive Muslim voting in Assam". Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "Over 78 percent votes cast in Assam polls first phase". ABP Live. 4 April 2016. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ "Upcoming Elections in India". Archived from the original on 14 November 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
- ^ "Panel silent on Assam dates- Final electoral rolls on January 11: CEC". Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ^ "Assam Chief Electoral Officer meets political parties on poll preparedness". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ "vvpat were introduced in 10 constituencies in Assam assembly polls". Jagranjosh.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
- ^ "Election Commission asked SPs to map vulnerable places for Assam polls". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ "National Register of Citizens in Assam: Issue of illegal foreigners continues to be a major political one". Archived from the original on 1 November 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ "Assam: Overhaul of National Register of Citizens sparks controversy". Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ "The starkness of being nowhere".
- ^ "In Assam, an ongoing effort to detect illegal Bangladeshi migrants". The Indian Express. 17 June 2015. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ "Migrants Issue: SC Asks Assam Govt to Upgrade NRC by March 1". outlookindia.com. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ "Complete NRC by March 1: SC to Assam government". Indo-Asian News Service. 1 December 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- ^ "Bangladesh, India in historic land swap after nearly 4 decades". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 29 December 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ^ "Population by religion community - 2011". Census of India, 2011. The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 25 August 2015.
- ^ "Census 2011 data rekindles 'demographic invasion' fear in Assam". Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ^ "Religious communities Census 2011: What the numbers say". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 January 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ "Bodos and their rights". Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- ^ "Assembly polls: Chasing the Muslim vote". Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ^ "Muslim majority districts in Assam up". Archived from the original on 4 January 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ^ "Assam Muslim growth is higher in districts away from border". Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ^ "Census 2011 data rekindles 'demographic invasion' fear in Assam". Archived from the original on 4 January 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ^ "Badruddin Ajmal: Businessman, AIUDF chief and Assam's next kingmaker?". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ "The politics around the two ends of Assam's complex Muslim spectrum". The Indian Express. 8 April 2016. Archived from the original on 11 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ Supratim Dey (27 November 2015). "BJP blows poll bugle in Assam with Amit Shah's rally". Archived from the original on 24 December 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ^ "Regional players eye key role". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- ^ "Not against Muslims, only illegal migrants: Sarbananda Sonowal". Archived from the original on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ "Sarbananda Sonowal vs Union Of India on 5 December, 2006". Archived from the original on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
- ^ "BJP gets battle ready in Assam after Bihar loss". Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ^ "In fact: How possible is the BJP's 'Mission 84' in Assam next year?". The Indian Express. 2 November 2015. Archived from the original on 3 January 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ^ "BJP gears up for Assam election, unit gets 28 lakh new members". Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ^ "Assam: can BJP defy history?". Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ^ "Bodoland drubbing forces Cong, BJP to rethink poll plan". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 21 April 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ "RSS workers 'stopped' me from entering Assam temple: Rahul Gandhi". The Indian Express. 15 December 2015. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ^ "Tarun Gogoi to be CM candidate in 2016 Assam polls: Rahul Gandhi". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ Sandeep Phukan (7 February 2016). "Assam Tea Workers Await Tribal Status As Congress, BJP Fight For Their Vote". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- ^ "Koch royal families of Assam raise the ante for ST status". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ^ "Nine Assam Cong MLAs to join BJP today". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 9 November 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ^ "Hindustan is for Hindus: Assam governor". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 November 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ^ "Ex-Ulfa rebels to contest Assam polls". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
- ^ "BJP launches Assam Nirman to chart roadmap to progress". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 1 January 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ "Rise in crimes against women in Assam: Irani". The Hindu. Press Trust of India.
- ^ "Top BJP leaders to visit state in Dec". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ^ "Citizenship delay due to BJP: Assam CM Tarun Gogoi". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ "BJP trying to bring goondaraj to Assam: CM Tarun Gogoi". Archived from the original on 2 January 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
- ^ "Assam CM Tarun Gogoi doles out scheme to build all-religion bhawans". Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
- ^ "Four months to Assam assembly polls, Gogoi govt to give rice at Rs 2 a kg". The Indian Express. 2 January 2016. Archived from the original on 2 January 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
- ^ "Assam Congress rules out truck with AIUDF, AGP". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- ^ Sanjay Kumar. "The state in the States". The Hindu.
- ^ "Bangladesh border fence in Assam to be completed this year: Rajnath Singh". Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- ^ "Gogoi tirade against Rajnath, Modi". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 10 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- ^ "Not satisfied with fencing work along Dhubri sector of India-Bangladesh border: Rajnath Singh". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ "Gogoi: Rajnath shirked duty, indulged in politics in Assam". Archived from the original on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- ^ "Ground Report From Dhubri: Will Border Issues Polarise Voters in Assam?". Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- ^ "Why PM Modi launched his Assam campaign from Kokrajhar". The Indian Express. 19 January 2016. Archived from the original on 8 February 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ "Prime Minister Narendra Modi to kick off BJP's Assam campaign".
- ^ "BJP departs from practice, names Sarbananda Sonowal as Assam CM candidate". Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ "Sitharaman: Gogoi spreading misinformation about NEIIPP". Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ "Ethnic groups seek Ulfa help to get ST tag". The Times of India.
- ^ "Why the militant group ULFA matters ahead of Assam Assembly Polls". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ Ipsita Chakravarty. "A political map of Assam: Congress vs BJP vs AIUDF vs BPF vs AGP". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- ^ "Assembly polls: BJP, Congress fight to woo tea garden workers". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ "NaMo to inaugurate gas cracker project in Dibrugarh on February 5". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
- ^ "After 31 years, Rs 9,965 cr Assam gas cracker project sees light of day". The Indian Express. 6 February 2016. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- ^ "South Asian Games budget up because of terror threat". Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ^ "AGP, BJP to fight Assam assembly polls together". Indo-Asian News Service. 2 March 2016. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ Firstpost (11 March 2016). "Assam elections: BJP offers a five-party coalition alternative to Congress". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
- ^ CM announces Rs 3,000 cr for Barak Valley Archived 6 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Rahul in Assam: PM Modi didn't answer my questions". The Indian Express. 5 March 2016. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ Prabin Kalita (7 March 2016). "Assam polls: Congress ties up with United People's Party". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ^ "BJP declares candidates for 1st phase of Assam elections". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ "Ballotin: Eye on Dispur". Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ "Assam polls 2016: How the world's largest inhabited island - Majuli - figures in BJP's game plan". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ "PM Narendra Modi to campaign for BJP's Assam CM nominee Sarbananda Sonowal". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ "First list of Congress candidates for Assam polls announced". The Indian Express. 15 March 2016. Archived from the original on 21 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ "Assam polls: Congress releases list of 57 candidates for second phase". The Times of India. 21 March 2016. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ "Congress releases second list of candidates for Assam Assembly elections". CNN-IBN. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ "For phase 2, old is gold for Cong- Four fresh faces in final list". Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ "BJP's Himanta files nomination papers from Jalukbari". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ Firstpost (17 March 2016). "Assam Election 2016: AIUDF, RJD, JD(U) form grand alliance against BJP, invite Congress to join". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ Naresh Mitra (21 March 2016). "Ajmal and his son in Assam assembly poll fray". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ "Assam: BJP MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa pitted against CM Tarun Gogoi in upcoming assembly polls". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ "Pre-Bihu date with elections". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ "Assam Assembly Election Schedule 2016". infoelections. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- ^ a b c "VVPAT usage in 64 seats in 5 states Schedule for the General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
- ^ "Congress, BJP neck and neck in Assam, opinion poll projects". The Times of India. 1 April 2016. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ^ "BJP to win Assam Assembly elections". abpnews.abplive.in. 29 March 2016. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ^ "Assam Assembly Elections 2016 opinion poll: Congress to win 40 seats, BJP-AGP lag behind, AIUDF will be the kingmaker!". india.com. 25 March 2016. Archived from the original on 21 May 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
- ^ "Assam Election Opinion Poll: 2016 India Today C Voter". infoelections.com. 25 January 2016. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
- ^ "Opinion Poll says LDF may stage a comeback in Kerala while TMC to retain power in Bengal". dna. 4 March 2016. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- ^ "CPM-led LDF to storm to power in Kerala, BJP-led alliance short of majority in Assam: CVoter poll". The Indian Express. 5 March 2016. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- ^ "India Today-Axis Exit Poll: Jaya to lose Tamil Nadu, BJP sweeps Assam, Mamata to retain Bengal". India Today. Archived from the original on 17 May 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ "Exit polls: BJP unseats Congress in Assam, LDF ousts UDF in Kerala; Mamata retains WB, Jaya goes from TN". The Indian Express. 16 May 2016. Archived from the original on 17 May 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Tarun Gogoi Out As Chief Minister, Assam Turns To BJP, Show Exit Polls". NDTV. Archived from the original on 17 May 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ "Assam records its highest voter turnout". Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ Prabin Kalita (12 April 2016). "Assam records highest-ever polling in its history, surprise results likely". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ "Assam's 85% has pollsters riveted". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ "High turnout in Assam, West Bengal in second phase; one dead in police firing, FIR against Tarun Gogoi". The Indian Express. 11 April 2016. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ "Assam polls: 189 EVMs replaced during final phase". The Indian Express. 11 April 2016. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ "Assam General Legislative Election 2016". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 8 January 2021.