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122 seats in theAssam Legislative Assembly 62 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Registered | 12,119,125 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 78.92% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Elections to theAssam Legislative Assembly were held in April 1996 to elect members of 114 constituencies inAssam, India. TheIndian National Congress (INC) won the popular vote, but theAsom Gana Parishad (AGP) won the most seats andPrafulla Kumar Mahanta was appointed as theChief Minister of Assam for his second term.[1][2] The number of constituencies was set as 126, by the recommendation of theDelimitation Commission of India,[3] but elections were held in only 122 constituencies. The constituencies ofDispur,Dergaon,Nazira andMargherita did not go to polls immediately, but they had polls in November 1996.
In 1991, theIndian Army was tasked with executingOperation Rhino against theUnited Liberation Front of Assam.[4] In 1993, the six-year agitation by theAll Bodo Students' Union in Assam demanding a separate state within India ended with a peace accord that established anautonomous district council.[5]
TheChief Minister of Assam,Hiteswar Saikia, died in Delhi, on 22 April 1996, only 5 days before the election.[6]Bhumidhar Barman was sworn in as interim chief-minister, but as the Indian National Congress failed to form the government after the elections, his tenure lasted 22 days. The party's defeat was attributed to Saikia's death, which unravelled the electoral coalition he had built up in opposition to the resurgent Asom Gana Parishad.[7][8][9]
In 1991, former Home Minister,Bhrigu Kumar Phukan, formed theNatun Asom Gana Parishad (NAGP) in opposition to the policies of Asom Gana Parishad leader,Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. Phukan merged the NAGP back with the AGP before the 1996 elections.[10] The AGP formed also a five-party pre-poll electoral alliance before the elections with theCPI, theCPI(M), theASDC and theUMFA.[11]
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
| Indian National Congress | 2,778,627 | 30.56 | 34 |  32 | |
| Asom Gana Parishad | 2,700,934 | 29.70 | 59 |  40 | |
| Bharatiya Janata Party | 946,236 | 10.41 | 4 | 6 | |
| All India Indira Congress (Tiwari) | 337,668 | 3.71 | 2 | New | |
| Autonomous State Demand Committee | 179,877 | 1.98 | 5 | 1 | |
| Communist Party of India | 177,750 | 1.95 | 3 | 1 | |
| Communist Party of India (Marxist) | 176,721 | 1.94 | 2 | 0 | |
| United Minorities Front, Assam | 105,408 | 1.16 | 2 | New | |
| Others | 105,471 | 1.16 | 0 | 0 | |
| Independents | 1,584,109 | 17.42 | 11 | 4 | |
| Total | 9,092,801 | 100.00 | 122 | 4 | |
| Valid votes | 9,092,801 | 95.07 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 471,632 | 4.93 | |||
| Total votes | 9,564,433 | 100.00 | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 12,119,125 | 78.92 | |||
| Source: ECI[12] | |||||
| Constituency | Reserved for (SC/ST/None) | Member | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ratabari | SC | Sambhusing Mallah | Bharatiya Janata Party | |
| Patharkandi | None | Sukhendu Shekhar Dutta | Bharatiya Janata Party | |
| Karimganj North | None | Sirajul Haque Choudhury | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Karimganj South | None | Abdul Muqtadir Choudhury | Indian National Congress | |
| Badarpur | None | Abu Saleh Najmuddin | Indian National Congress | |
| Hailakandi | None | Abdul Muhib Majumder | Independent | |
| Katlicherra | None | Gautam Roy | Indian National Congress | |
| Algapur | None | Sahidul Alam Choudhury | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Silchar | None | Bimalangshu Roy | Bharatiya Janata Party | |
| Sonai | None | Anwar Hussain Laskar | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Dholai | SC | Girindra Mallik | Indian National Congress | |
| Udharbond | None | Jagannath Sinha | Indian National Congress | |
| Lakhipur | None | Dinesh Prosad Goala | Indian National Congress | |
| Barkhola | None | Misbahul Islam Laskar | Indian National Congress | |
| Katigora | None | Kali Ranjan Deb | Bharatiya Janata Party | |
| Haflong | ST | Samarjit Haflongbar | Autonomous State Demand Committee | |
| Bokajan | ST | Jagat Sing Engti | Autonomous State Demand Committee | |
| Howraghat | ST | Chandra Kanta Terang | Autonomous State Demand Committee | |
| Diphu | ST | Hemsing Tisso | Autonomous State Demand Committee | |
| Baithalangso | ST | Holiram Terang | Autonomous State Demand Committee | |
| Mankachar | None | Aminul Islam | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Salmara South | None | Wazed Ali Choudhury | Indian National Congress | |
| Dhubri | None | Nazibul Umar | Indian National Congress | |
| Gauripur | None | Banendra Kumar Mushahary | Independent | |
| Golakganj | None | Alauddin Sarkar | Communist Party of India | |
| Bilasipara West | None | Ali Akbar Miah | All India Indira Congress | |
| Bilasipara East | None | Prasanta Kumar Barua | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Gossaigaon | None | Rajendra Mushahary | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Kokrajhar West | ST | Hemendra Nath Brahma | Independent | |
| Kokrajhar East | ST | Pramila Rani Brahma | Independent | |
| Sidli | ST | Andrias Hajoary | Independent | |
| Bongaigaon | None | Phani Bhusan Choudhury | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Bijni | None | Mohini Basumatary | Independent | |
| Abhayapuri North | None | Bhupen Ch. Ray | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Abhayapuri South | SC | Rabin Banikya | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Dudhnai | ST | Akan Rabha | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Goalpara East | None | Jyotish Das | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Goalpara West | None | Abu Bakkar Siddique Jotdar | Indian National Congress | |
| Jaleswar | None | Afzalur Rahman | Indian National Congress | |
| Sorbhog | None | Hemen Das | Communist Party of India | |
| Bhabanipur | None | Surendra Nath Medhi | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Patacharkuchi | None | Mohan Das | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Barpeta | None | Ismail Hussain | All India Indira Congress | |
| Jania | None | Abdur Rouf | United Minorities Front, Assam | |
| Baghbar | None | Sheikh Abdul Hamid | United Minorities Front, Assam | |
| Sarukhetri | None | Nizamuddin Khan | Communist Party of India | |
| Chenga | None | Sukur Ali | Indian National Congress | |
| Boko | SC | Jyoti Prasad Das | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Chaygaon | None | Kamala Kanta Kalita | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Palasbari | None | Jatin Mali | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Jalukbari | None | Bhrigu Kumar Phukan | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Gauhati East | None | Biraj Kumar Sarma | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Gauhati West | None | Ramendra Narayan Kalita | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Hajo | None | Nurul Hussain | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Kamalpur | None | Maidul Islam Bora | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Rangiya | None | Thaneswar Boro | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Tamulpur | None | Derhagra Mochahari | Independent | |
| Nalbari | None | Nagen Sarma | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Barkhetry | None | Pulakesh Barua | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Dharmapur | None | Chandra Mohan Patowary | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Barama | ST | Rekha Rani Das Boro | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Chapaguri | ST | Jagmohan Basmatary | Independent | |
| Panery | None | Kumud Chandra Das | Independent | |
| Kalaigaon | None | Mahendra Mohan Rai Choudhury | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Sipajhar | None | Zoii Nath Sarmah | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Mangaldoi | SC | Hiren Kumar Das | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Dalgaon | None | Abdul Jabbar | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Udalguri | ST | Deva Kanta Ramchiary | Independent | |
| Majbat | None | Silvius Condpan | Indian National Congress | |
| Dhekiajuli | None | Joseph Toppo | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Barchalla | None | Prafulla Goswami | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Tezpur | None | Brindabon Goswami | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Rangapara | None | Bhimananda Tanti | Indian National Congress | |
| Sootea | None | Padma Hazarika | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Biswanath | None | Prabin Hazarika | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Behali | None | Barnabash Tanti | Indian National Congress | |
| Gohpur | None | Ganesh Kutum | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Jagiroad | SC | Bubul Das | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Marigaon | None | Munin Mahanta | Communist Party of India | |
| Laharighat | None | Nazrul Islam | Indian National Congress | |
| Raha | SC | Gahin Ch. Das | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Dhing | None | Mustafa Shahidul Islam | Indian National Congress | |
| Batadroba | None | Digen Chandra Borah | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Rupohihat | None | Rashidul Haque | Indian National Congress | |
| Nowgong | None | Prafulla Kumar Mahanta | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Barhampur | None | Prafulla Kumar Mahanta | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Samaguri | None | Atul Kumar Sharma | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Kaliabor | None | Gunin Hazarika | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Jamunamukh | None | Khalilur Rahman Chowdhury | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Hojai | None | Ardhendu Kumar Dey | Indian National Congress | |
| Lumding | None | Hazi Abdur Rouf | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Bokakhat | None | Bhupendra Nath Bhuyan | Indian National Congress | |
| Sarupathar | None | Binod Gowala | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Golaghat | None | Atul Bora | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Khumtai | None | Probin Gogoi | Independent | |
| Jorhat | None | Hitendranath Goswami | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Majuli | ST | Karuna Dutta | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Titabar | None | Hemanta Kalita | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Mariani | None | Rupam Kurmi | Indian National Congress | |
| Teok | None | Renupoma Rajkhowa | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Amguri | None | Pradip Hazarika | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Mahmara | None | Hiranya Kumar Konwar | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Sonari | None | Sarat Borkataky | Indian National Congress | |
| Thowra | None | Debananda Konwar | Indian National Congress | |
| Sibsagar | None | Promode Gogoi | Communist Party of India | |
| Bihpuria | None | Kesharam Bora | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Naoboicha | None | Mani Kr. Subba | Indian National Congress | |
| Lakhimpur | None | Utpal Dutta | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Dhakuakhana | ST | Bharat Chandra Narah | Indian National Congress | |
| Dhemaji | ST | Dilip Kumar Saikia | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Jonai | ST | Pradan Boruah | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Moran | None | Joy Chandra Nagbanshi | Indian National Congress | |
| Dibrugarh | None | Kalyan Kumar Gogoi | Indian National Congress | |
| Lahowal | None | Prithibi Majhi | Indian National Congress | |
| Duliajan | None | Amiya Gogoi | Indian National Congress | |
| Tingkhong | None | Atuwa Munda | Indian National Congress | |
| Naharkatia | None | Pranati Phukan | Indian National Congress | |
| Chabua | None | Bhaben Baruah | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Tinsukia | None | Sudhangshu Coomer De Sirkar | Indian National Congress | |
| Digboi | None | Rameswar Dhanowar | Indian National Congress | |
| Doom Dooma | None | Dileswar Tanti | Indian National Congress | |
| Sadiya | None | Jogdish Bhuyan | Asom Gana Parishad | |
On 6 May 1996, the Minister for Rural Development, and candidate for theGolaghat Assembly constituency,Nagen Neog was killed, by suspected terrorists. Along with him, 8 other people, including his driver, and 5 bodyguards, also died.[13]
| Date | Constituency | Winner | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 November 1996 | Dispur | Atul Bora[14] | Asom Gana Parishad | |
| Nowgong[a] | Girindra Kumar Baruah[15] | |||
| Dergaon | Sushila Hazarika[16] | |||
| Nazira | Hemprove Saikia[17] | Indian National Congress | ||
| Margherita | Tarun Gogoi[18] | |||
Mahanta has represented the seat for as many as seven terms from 1985, having served as chief minister for two terms from 1985-90 and 1996-2001, in between.
Nevertheless, the AGP's coming back to the Janta Bhawan, Dispur was also helped partially by the sudden demise of chief Minister Hiteshwar Saikia on 22nd April 1996 in New Delhi which shocked the party cadres of the Congress(I).
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