Dhakuakhana (ST) constituency assembly elections 2026: BJP’s Naba Kumar Doley wins against Congress’s Ananda Narah

NEW DELHI: BJP’s Naba Kumar Doley won against Congress’s Ananda Narah, securing a total 92,123 votes in Assam’s Dhakuakhana (ST) constituency. Doley won by a margin of over 50,000 votes.Exit poll results from various agencies indicate that the BJP-led government is expected to return to power with a comfortable majority, allowing Himanta Biswa Sarma to retain the chief minister’s post.Voting for all 126 constituencies took place on April 9, with more than 85% turnout. The high participation rate extended across rural and urban regions, showcasing widespread electoral enthusiasm.Dhakuakhana (ST) is a Scheduled Tribe-reserved assembly constituency in Assam's Dhemaji district, part of the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha area, dominated by rural Mishing tribal communities and flood-prone riverine landscapes. Naba Kumar Doley of the BJP remains the current MLA, having won in 2021, 2016, and earlier as AGP candidate.In 2021, he secured 86,382 votes (51per cent share), defeating INC's Padma Lochan Doley (76,786 votes, 45per cent) by 9,596 votes. Severe annual flooding from rivers like the Subansiri erodes land and crops, displacing tribal families despite embankments.Poor rural infrastructure, including roads and healthcare access, alongside youth unemployment beyond farming, drives demands for ST-specific welfare and connectivity. Preservation of Mishing culture amid erosion threats is a growing concern.