The road to the Assam Legislative Assembly is now clearer as the Election Commission successfully concluded the scrutiny of nomination papers across all 126 constituencies. Following an intensive verification process that wrapped up on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, a total of 789 candidates have been found eligible to contest the upcoming polls.
The scrutiny phase initially saw 815 candidates file a staggering 1,389 sets of nomination papers. After the final proceedings were concluded—including adjourned sessions in the Barpeta and Dhekiajuli constituencies—the official count of valid candidates stands at 789.
The final day of scrutiny brought significant developments in key regions. In Dhekiajuli, all 10 filed nomination papers were validated, allowing a full field of contenders to move forward. However, the situation in Barpeta took a dramatic turn. The nomination of Congress candidate Mahananda Sarkar was declared invalid following technical scrutiny, leaving the constituency with only three valid candidates. This rejection narrows the field significantly, setting up a contest between AGP candidate Dipak Kumar Das and two Independent challengers.
With the scrutiny phase behind them, the Election Commission has now shifted its focus to the next milestone in the electoral calendar. Candidates wishing to opt out of the race have until March 26, 2026, to withdraw their names. Records indicate that three independent candidates have already exercised this option and withdrawn their nominations prior to the deadline.
The completion of this administrative hurdle marks a shift in the state’s political climate. As the final list of candidates is expected to be published shortly after the March 26 deadline, political parties are already intensifying their ground-level campaigns.
From the tea gardens of upper Assam to the riverine tracts of the Brahmaputra Valley, the electoral battle has officially entered its next high-stakes phase. Voters across the state now await the final line-up of leaders who will compete for a seat in the 126-member house.
