In its list of 26 candidates for Thursday's assembly elections, 13 are from the Bengali-speaking Muslim community -- a demographic that was at the centre of the original Assam agitation.
'The BJP successfully merged governance with identity. That's a powerful combination in Assam's political context.'
The BJP has appointed Amit Shah and JP Nadda as central observers for the election of legislative party leaders in West Bengal and Assam, respectively, following recent assembly poll victories.
The BJP is currently leading in eight out of the 13 seats in Assam's Barak Valley, while the Congress is ahead in the remaining five constituencies, according to the latest Election Commission data.
'The real fault line in Assam is not Hindu versus Muslim. It is Assamese versus Bengali -- and within that, the specific anxiety about undocumented Bangladeshi settlers claiming land and altering the demographic balance of the state.'
'The BJP's tally may dip, but the NDA is likely to retain power.'
The outcome of the assembly elections will not only determine AIUDF's immediate relevance but could also shape its long-term role in Assam's political landscape.
The impact was so severe that none of the buffaloes survived.
BJP workers celebrated in West Bengal as the party took an early lead in the state assembly elections, raising slogans and exchanging sweets.
The BJP is showing strong leads in West Bengal and Assam, while actor Vijay's party is making a significant debut in Tamil Nadu. The Congress is ahead in Kerala, offering some consolation amid the changing political landscape in the state elections.
Total number of 722 candidates are in the fray for 126 seats.
The TMC has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging that he made polarising and criminally intimidating statements during election campaigning in West Bengal.
Voters in Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry are voting in crucial assembly elections.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday claimed India's neighbours wanted to "break up" Assam by taking advantage of the unrest in the state earlier, but their "dreams were shattered" as the Narendra Modi government brought peace to the region.
The Punjab government has filed a plea seeking the continued detention of MP Amritpal Singh in Dibrugarh jail, Assam, citing security concerns. The High Court dismissed Amritpal's plea challenging his detention under the National Security Act.
Voting has commenced for the Assembly elections in Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry, with millions of voters deciding the fate of numerous candidates across various constituencies. The elections are crucial for determining the future governance and political landscape of these regions.
The Telangana High Court has granted transit anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case filed against him by Assam police over allegations against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife.
The Assam Rifles conducted a drone awareness and training session for CISF personnel, focusing on drone identification, threat assessment, and response measures.
Mamata Banerjee accuses the BJP of importing voters for the Assam elections and plotting similar interference in West Bengal, raising concerns about electoral integrity and potential cultural restrictions.
'Our government is committed to addressing it firmly while protecting the rights of genuine citizens.'
Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora of the AGP has won the Bokakhat assembly constituency for a third consecutive term, defeating Raijor Dal's Hari Prasad Saikia by a significant margin.
Top Congress leaders are questioning whether the Election Commission's announced schedule for the Assembly polls unduly benefits the BJP, citing concerns over the timing and structuring of election phases.
Four Assam Congress workers have been arrested for allegedly possessing and transporting pamphlets containing allegations against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, sparking controversy and accusations of undemocratic action.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized 524.9 kg of ganja worth approximately Rs 2.6 crore in Assam and arrested two individuals as part of increased operations before the upcoming Assembly elections in Assam and West Bengal.
A review of the accuracy of various exit polls in predicting the outcomes of recent assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu, highlighting the performance of different pollsters.
Police in Meghalaya have busted an interstate ATM theft racket, arresting six individuals in connection with a break-in at a bank ATM in the Ri-Bhoi district.
Assam Police in Cachar district seized heroin worth 3.25 crore and arrested five individuals involved in drug trafficking, reaffirming the state's commitment to combating drug abuse.
The Enforcement Directorate conducted raids across Arunachal Pradesh, uncovering a large-scale interstate liquor smuggling and money laundering network.
A special court in Assam has rejected the bail petition of Shyamkanu Mahanta, the prime accused in the death of singer Zubeen Garg, citing a risk of him fleeing the country.
The Assam government has set up an eight-member committee to prepare a framework for implementation of all clauses of the 36-year-old Assam Accord, especially the Clause-6 report prepared by a central panel pertaining to protecting the cultural, social and linguistic identity and heritage of the indigenous people, officials said on Saturday.
The ruling comes against the backdrop of an intensified anti-encroachment campaign launched by the Assam government since May 2021.
West Bengal recorded its highest-ever voter turnout in the 2026 assembly polls since Independence, with a cumulative 92.47 per cent polling in two phases, the Election Commission said on Wednesday.
Official records reveal that over one lakh mature trees have been felled in Assam since May 2016 for various development projects, raising concerns about ecological loss despite compensatory afforestation efforts.
'The grounds shown by the investigating officer (IO) for issuance of non-bailable warrant were 'entirely based on presumptions and conjectures, and are not supported by any material on record',' the court said.
The AINRC-led NDA has won the Puducherry Assembly elections and is set to form the government. Chief Minister N Rangasamy won both seats he contested.
A team of Chhattisgarh Police personnel was detained by Guwahati Police for allegedly demanding and accepting bribes from cybercrime accused arrested from Assam.
Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the murder of a migrant worker in Kottachira, near Kuruppampady, Kerala. The victim, Pratap Chandra Barman, was allegedly assaulted following a quarrel.
What began as a war of words has now turned into a sharp political and legal confrontation, with both sides digging in.
Women voters in West Bengal appear to be shifting their priorities beyond financial assistance, placing greater emphasis on governance and accountability, according to post-election analysis. This shift may have contributed to the Trinamool Congress's (TMC) losses in the recent assembly election, as the BJP's promises and other factors influenced voter sentiment.
The opening rounds of the Junior and Youth National Table Tennis Championships saw dominant performances from leading teams, while some lower-ranked teams put up a strong fight.