| Election name | 1996 Assam Legislative Assembly election |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| Ongoing | no |
| Previous election | 1991 Assam Legislative Assembly election |
| Previous year | 1991 |
| Election date | 27 April 1996 |
| Next election | 2001 Assam Legislative Assembly election |
| Next year | 2001 |
| Seats for election | 122 seats in the Assam Legislative Assembly |
| Majority seats | 62 |
| Registered | 12,119,125 |
| Turnout | 78.92% |
| Party 1 | Asom Gana Parishad |
| Leader 1 | Prafulla Kumar Mahanta |
| Seats 1 | 59 |
| Popular vote 1 | 29.70% |
| Seat change 1 | 40 |
| Party 2 | Indian National Congress |
| Leader 2 | Hiteswar Saikia |
| Seats 2 | 34 |
| Popular vote 2 | 30.56% |
| Seat change 2 | 32 |
| Before party | Indian National Congress |
| Before election | Bhumidhar Barman |
| After party | Asom Gana Parishad |
| After election | Prafulla Kumar Mahanta |
Elections to the Assam Legislative Assembly were held in April 1996 to elect members of 122 constituencies in Assam, India. The Indian National Congress (INC) won the popular vote, but the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) won the most seats and Prafulla Kumar Mahanta was appointed as the Chief Minister of Assam for his second term.[1][2] The number of constituencies was set as 126, by the recommendation of the Delimitation Commission of India,[3] but elections were held in only 122 constituencies. The constituencies of Dispur, Dergaon, Nazira and Margherita did not go to polls immediately, but they had polls in November 1996.
Background
In 1991, the Indian Army was tasked with executing Operation Rhino against the United Liberation Front of Assam.[4] In 1993, the six-year agitation by the All Bodo Students' Union in Assam demanding a separate state within India ended with a peace accord that established an autonomous district council.[5]
The Chief 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 the Natun 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 the CPI, the CPI(M), the ASDC and the UMFA.[11]
Parties and alliances
| colspan="6" | |||||
| Party | Flag | Symbol | Leader | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiteswar Saikia | 122 | ||||
| colspan="6" | |||||
| AGP-led Alliance | |||||
| Party | Flag | Symbol | Leader | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prafulla Kumar Mahanta | 95 | ||||
| 10 | |||||
| 9 | |||||
| Jayanta Rongpi | 5 | ||||
| Kalipada Sen | 3 | ||||
| Total | 122 | ||||
Elected members
| Constituency | Reserved for (SC/ST/None) | Member | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ratabari | SC | Sambhusing Mallah | ||
| Patharkandi | None | Sukhendu Shekhar Dutta | ||
| Karimganj North | None | Sirajul Haque Choudhury | ||
| Karimganj South | None | Abdul Muqtadir Choudhury | ||
| Badarpur | None | Abu Saleh Najmuddin | ||
| Hailakandi | None | Abdul Muhib Majumder | ||
| Katlicherra | None | Gautam Roy | ||
| Algapur | None | Sahidul Alam Choudhury | ||
| Silchar | None | Bimalangshu Roy | ||
| Sonai | None | Anwar Hussain Laskar | ||
| Dholai | SC | Girindra Mallik | ||
| Udharbond | None | Jagannath Sinha | ||
| Lakhipur | None | Dinesh Prosad Goala | ||
| Barkhola | None | Misbahul Islam Laskar | ||
| Katigora | None | Kali Ranjan Deb | ||
| Haflong | ST | Samarjit Haflongbar | ||
| Bokajan | ST | Jagat Sing Engti | ||
| Howraghat | ST | Chandra Kanta Terang | ||
| Diphu | ST | Hemsing Tisso | ||
| Baithalangso | ST | Holiram Terang | ||
| Mankachar | None | Aminul Islam | ||
| Salmara South | None | Wazed Ali Choudhury | ||
| Dhubri | None | Nazibul Umar | ||
| Gauripur | None | Banendra Kumar Mushahary | ||
| Golakganj | None | Alauddin Sarkar | ||
| Bilasipara West | None | Ali Akbar Miah | ||
| Bilasipara East | None | Prasanta Kumar Barua | ||
| Gossaigaon | None | Rajendra Mushahary | ||
| Kokrajhar West | ST | Hemendra Nath Brahma | ||
| Kokrajhar East | ST | Pramila Rani Brahma | ||
| Sidli | ST | Andrias Hajoary | ||
| Bongaigaon | None | Phani Bhusan Choudhury | ||
| Bijni | None | Mohini Basumatary | ||
| Abhayapuri North | None | Bhupen Ch. Ray | ||
| Abhayapuri South | SC | Rabin Banikya | ||
| Dudhnai | ST | Akan Rabha | ||
| Goalpara East | None | Jyotish Das | ||
| Goalpara West | None | Abu Bakkar Siddique Jotdar | ||
| Jaleswar | None | Afzalur Rahman | ||
| Sorbhog | None | Hemen Das | ||
| Bhabanipur | None | Surendra Nath Medhi | ||
| Patacharkuchi | None | Mohan Das | ||
| Barpeta | None | Ismail Hussain | ||
| Jania | None | Abdur Rouf | ||
| Baghbar | None | Sheikh Abdul Hamid | ||
| Sarukhetri | None | Nizamuddin Khan | ||
| Chenga | None | Sukur Ali | ||
| Boko | SC | Jyoti Prasad Das | ||
| Chaygaon | None | Kamala Kanta Kalita | ||
| Palasbari | None | Jatin Mali | ||
| Jalukbari | None | Bhrigu Kumar Phukan | ||
| Gauhati East | None | Biraj Kumar Sarma | ||
| Gauhati West | None | Ramendra Narayan Kalita | ||
| Hajo | None | Nurul Hussain | ||
| Kamalpur | None | Maidul Islam Bora | ||
| Rangiya | None | Thaneswar Boro | ||
| Tamulpur | None | Derhagra Mochahari | ||
| Nalbari | None | Nagen Sarma | ||
| Barkhetry | None | Pulakesh Barua | ||
| Dharmapur | None | Chandra Mohan Patowary | ||
| Barama | ST | Rekha Rani Das Boro | ||
| Chapaguri | ST | Jagmohan Basmatary | ||
| Panery | None | Kumud Chandra Das | ||
| Kalaigaon | None | Mahendra Mohan Rai Choudhury | ||
| Sipajhar | None | Zoii Nath Sarmah | ||
| Mangaldoi | SC | Hiren Kumar Das | ||
| Dalgaon | None | Abdul Jabbar | ||
| Udalguri | ST | Deva Kanta Ramchiary | ||
| Majbat | None | Silvius Condpan | ||
| Dhekiajuli | None | Joseph Toppo | ||
| Barchalla | None | Prafulla Goswami | ||
| Tezpur | None | Brindabon Goswami | ||
| Rangapara | None | Bhimananda Tanti | ||
| Sootea | None | Padma Hazarika | ||
| Biswanath | None | Prabin Hazarika | ||
| Behali | None | Barnabash Tanti | ||
| Gohpur | None | Ganesh Kutum | ||
| Jagiroad | SC | Bubul Das | ||
| Marigaon | None | Munin Mahanta | ||
| Laharighat | None | Nazrul Islam | ||
| Raha | SC | Gahin Ch. Das | ||
| Dhing | None | Mustafa Shahidul Islam | ||
| Batadroba | None | Digen Chandra Borah | ||
| Rupohihat | None | Rashidul Haque | ||
| Nowgong | None | Prafulla Kumar Mahanta | ||
| Barhampur | None | Prafulla Kumar Mahanta | ||
| Samaguri | None | Atul Kumar Sharma | ||
| Kaliabor | None | Gunin Hazarika | ||
| Jamunamukh | None | Khalilur Rahman Chowdhury | ||
| Hojai | None | Ardhendu Kumar Dey | ||
| Lumding | None | Hazi Abdur Rouf | ||
| Bokakhat | None | Bhupendra Nath Bhuyan | ||
| Sarupathar | None | Binod Gowala | ||
| Golaghat | None | Atul Bora | ||
| Khumtai | None | Probin Gogoi | ||
| Jorhat | None | Hitendranath Goswami | ||
| Majuli | ST | Karuna Dutta | ||
| Titabar | None | Hemanta Kalita | ||
| Mariani | None | Rupam Kurmi | ||
| Teok | None | Renupoma Rajkhowa | ||
| Amguri | None | Pradip Hazarika | ||
| Mahmara | None | Hiranya Kumar Konwar | ||
| Sonari | None | Sarat Borkataky | ||
| Thowra | None | Debananda Konwar | ||
| Sibsagar | None | Promode Gogoi | ||
| Bihpuria | None | Kesharam Bora | ||
| Naoboicha | None | Mani Kr. Subba | ||
| Lakhimpur | None | Utpal Dutta | ||
| Dhakuakhana | ST | Bharat Chandra Narah | ||
| Dhemaji | ST | Dilip Kumar Saikia | ||
| Jonai | ST | Pradan Boruah | ||
| Moran | None | Joy Chandra Nagbanshi | ||
| Dibrugarh | None | Kalyan Kumar Gogoi | ||
| Lahowal | None | Prithibi Majhi | ||
| Duliajan | None | Amiya Gogoi | ||
| Tingkhong | None | Atuwa Munda | ||
| Naharkatia | None | Pranati Phukan | ||
| Chabua | None | Bhaben Baruah | ||
| Tinsukia | None | Sudhangshu Coomer De Sirkar | ||
| Digboi | None | Rameswar Dhanowar | ||
| Doom Dooma | None | Dileswar Tanti | ||
| Sadiya | None | Jogdish Bhuyan | ||
Aftermath
On 6 May 1996, the Minister for Rural Development, and candidate for the Golaghat Assembly constituency, Nagen Neog was killed, by suspected terrorists. Along with him, 8 other people, including his driver, and 5 bodyguards, also died.[12]
Bye-elections
| Date | Constituency | Winner | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 November 1996 | Dispur | Atul Bora[13] | ||
| Nowgong[a] | Girindra Kumar Baruah[14] | |||
| Dergaon | Sushila Hazarika[15] | |||
| Nazira | Hemprove Saikia[16] | |||
| Margherita | Tarun Gogoi[17] | |||
See also
References
- ^ "Former CM Prafulla Mahanta not to contest Assam polls". The Shillong Times. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
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.
- ^ "Assam Legislative Assembly - Chief Ministers since 1937". Assam Legislative Assembly. Archived from the original on 13 May 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2006.
- ^ "DPACO (1976) - Archive Delimitation Orders". Election Commission of India. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- ^ https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/19911015-various-army-operations-launched-against-ulfa-814916-1991-10-14
- ^ George, Sudhir Jacob. “The Bodo Movement in Assam: Unrest to Accord.” Asian Survey, vol. 34, no. 10, 1994. pp. 878–92. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2644967. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
- ^ Chandra Nath Boruah (2009). Assamese Response to Regionalism: A Study Based on Electoral Politics. Mittal Publications. p. 64. ISBN 9788183242813.
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).
- ^ https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19960531-fragile-victory-753113-1996-05-30
- ^ https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19960531-elections-1996-agp-bounces-back-to-defeat-a-weak-congress-in-assam-832980-1996-05-30
- ^ https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19960430-elections-1996-assam-seems-headed-for-a-hung-assembly-835101-1996-04-29
- ^ Ahmed, Abu Nasar Saied; Baruah, Joydeep; Bhuyan, Ratna (2006). Election Politics in Assam: Issues, Trends, and People's Mandate. Akansha Publishing House. p. 96. ISBN 978-8183700573.
- ^ Meenu Roy (1996). India Votes, Elections 1996: A Critical Analysis. Deep & Deep Publications. p. 102. ISBN 9788171009008. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ "Rebels kill Assam leader in ambush". New Straits Times. Reuters. 8 May 1996. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ "BYE - ELECTION, 1996 - Legislative Assembly of Assam - Assembly constituency - 52 Dispur". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ "BYE - ELECTION, 1996 - Legislative Assembly of Assam - Assembly constituency - 86 Nagaon". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ "BYE - ELECTION, 1996 - Legislative Assembly of Assam - Assembly constituency - 97 Dergaon (SC)". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ "BYE - ELECTION, 1996 - Legislative Assembly of Assam - Assembly constituency - 104 - Nazira". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ "BYE - ELECTION, 1996 - Legislative Assembly of Assam - Assembly constituency - 124 Margherita". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
- ^ Prafulla Kumar Mahanta resigned from this seat since he had also won the seat of Barhampur