Delimitation edge for BJP-AGP in Assam's Barpeta

The Barpeta Lok Sabha constituency in Lower Assam has undergone a profile change following the last year's delimitation exercise. The seat, which was once a Muslim majority, has now become a Hindu majority seat.

Barpeta is Assam's vegetable hub and revered site of the state's Vaishnavite culture. The Lok Sabha constituency has 10 assembly segments, including Barpeta and Pakabetbari in Barpeta district, Bhabanipur-Sarbhog and Bajali in Bajali district, Bongaigaon and Abhayapuri in Bongaigaon district,Nalbari, Tihu, and Barkhetri in Nalbari district and Hajo-Sualkuchi in Kamrup district.

The state's ruling BJP has given this seat to its ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), while Congress and its INDIA bloc partner CPIM are pitted against each other in this seat.


Since 1952 general election Congress and CPIM has wrested this seat except in 2014 when Sirajuddin Ajmal, the brother of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal, was elected to the Lok Sabha. In 2019 Abdul Khaleque from Congress wrested this seat.

Khaleque was dropped following the delimitation exercise of last year and the constituency losing sizable Muslim population. Congress has fielded a new face Deep Bayan, the state Seva Dal chief.

The CPIM has fielded its MLA from Sarbhog, Manoranjan Talukdar in the seat. This seat was a sore point between the Congress and CPIM with both vying for this seat.

AGP has fielded its eight-time Bongaigaon MLA, Phani Bhushan Choudhury from Barpeta.

Over 75 prominent personalities from Assam have appealed to the Congress to reconsider its decision to contest the Barpeta constituency.

The signatories include Hiren Gohain, Udayaditya Bharali, Chandra Mohan Sarma, and others. They emphasised the critical need for unity and cooperation among opposition parties to effectively challenge the BJP in the upcoming elections.

PM Narendra Modi recently addressed a rally in Nalbari for BJP's allies, CPIM is relying on door-to-door campaign. The Left party has set a target to visit one lakh household in this constituency and has crossed over lakh household.

The constituency has 19,49,873 voters and 14 candidates are competing in this election. While Muslims account for over 7 lakh of the population, the rest are Hindus.

Political analyst said that this seat where the demographics changed will see a bitter fight between the Marxist candidate and AGP candidate.