Assam BJP elects new chief, bars district heads from 2026 Assembly polls

BJP is confident that together with allies the party will win over 100 seats in the assembly polls next year.

Lok Sabha MP Dilip Saikia on Friday took charge as the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president at a ceremony held in BJP headquarters in Guwahati.

Speaking at the function Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “I have consulted the outgoing President Bhabesh Kalita if he wishes to continue. Kalita said that as the party decided that the district unit president should not contest assembly polls, the party president also decided that the party president in the state unit must not contest the assembly polls. Kalita is willing to contest assembly polls next year from Rangia.”

Kalita was a former minister. Sarma said, “BJP has won 94 assembly segments in the recently held parliamentary polls. The new president has the responsibility of bringing back the BJP led government in 2026 for a third consecutive term.”

He exuded confidence that together with allies BJP will win over 100 seats in next assembly polls. “Under the leadership of Kalita BJP on its own got a majority in the assembly polls, under the leadership of Saikia BJP in Assam on its own can win 75 seats”.Sarma said that BJP is a disciplined party. He challenged Congress to elect its district unit president and see the internal wrangling in the party. “Change in Congress will mean setting ablaze party offices. Change will mean party offices in Barpeta or Dhubri that will be set on fire. Here in BJP just see there is change of posts and there is not a single word of discontentment.” Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, was present during the event. Saikia, a former BJP national general secretary, is the second-time MP from the Darrang-Udalguri (previously Mangaldai) constituency.

Saikia has held various positions in the BJP and its youth wing and was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 2019.