Guwahati : Assam will go to the polls on April 9 in a high-stakes contest for its 126-member , with the ruling BJP-led NDA seeking a third consecutive term and the Congress-led opposition alliance aiming to return to power.

Polling will be held from 7 am to 5 pm across 31,490 polling stations spread over 35 districts. A total of 2.50 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise, including 1.25 crore women and 318 from the third gender category.

A total of 722 candidates are in the fray, among them Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal, Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi and Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) president Lurinjyoti Gogoi.

Among political parties, the Congress is contesting the highest number of seats at 99, followed by the BJP with 90. AIUDF has fielded 30 candidates, while NDA allies AGP and BPF are contesting 26 and 11 seats, respectively. Other parties in the fray include Raijor Dal (13), AJP (10), CPI(M) (3), APHLC (2), AAP (18), UPPL (18), TMC (22) and JMM (16), besides 258 Independent candidates.

The constituencies of Algapur-Katlicherra and Karimganj South have the highest number of candidates at 15 each. In contrast, nine constituencies – Rangia, Jagiroad (SC), Hojai, Naduar, Jonai (ST), Doomdooma, Mahmora, Teok and Lakhipur – are witnessing straight contests with only two candidates each.

Out of the total contestants, 59 are women. The Congress has fielded 14 women candidates, while the BJP has nominated seven.

Key electoral battles include Jalukbari, where Sarma is seeking a sixth consecutive victory against Congress candidate Bidisha Neog, and Jorhat, where Gaurav Gogoi is making his assembly debut against BJP’s Hitendranath Goswami.

In Nazira, Saikia is contesting to retain his traditional stronghold against BJP’s Mayur Borgohain. In the Bodoland Territorial Region seat of Tamulpur, a direct contest is expected between BJP candidate Jolen Daimary and UPPL chief Pramod Boro.

Other prominent contests include Ajmal in Binnakandi, Akhil Gogoi in Sibsagar, Lurinjyoti Gogoi in Khowang, AGP president Atul Bora in Bokakhat and minister Keshab Mahanta in Kaliabor.

Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goel said all polling stations will be equipped with webcasting facilities for real-time monitoring. Central Armed Police Forces, including CRPF personnel, have been deployed across the state to ensure free and fair elections.

The electorate includes 6.42 lakh first-time voters, 2.50 lakh senior citizens aged 80 and above – including 2,466 centenarians – and 2.05 lakh persons with disabilities.