Digboi: With the Assam Assembly elections scheduled for 2026 drawing closer, political activity in the Digboi constituency has intensified, with aspirants across party lines stepping up grassroots outreach and public relations campaigns.
Amid increasing internal competition within parties, the political narrative in Digboi continues to centre on sitting BJP MLA Suren Phukan.
A two-time legislator from Digboi, Phukan remains a dominant presence in the constituency's political landscape. Despite intermittent controversies over the years, he continues to enjoy substantial grassroots support, a factor that has kept him firmly positioned as the BJP's most viable contender from the seat.
Political observers note that neither organisational dissent nor public criticism has significantly eroded his core voter base.
Phukan's continued relevance assumes greater significance when viewed against Digboi's complex voter composition. The constituency has a sizeable Moran electorate of around 43,000 voters, closely matched by an Adivasi population of approximately 43,000, making these two groups electorally decisive.
In addition, the constituency includes around 18,000 Bengali-speaking voters, 18,000 Christian voters, 7,000 Hindi-speaking voters, 6,000 Ahom voters, 5,000 Scheduled Tribe voters, and nearly 4,000 Muslim voters, underscoring the multi-layered demographic balance that candidates must navigate.
Observers note that any move by the BJP to project an alternative candidate in place of Suren Phukan could significantly alter the electoral equation in Digboi. Such a shift, they contend, may open space for the Congress, particularly with senior leader Dulal Moran emerging as a prominent contender.
Analysts point out that the Moran community, which plays a decisive role in the constituency, could realign its support should the BJP move away from its sitting legislator.
The Congress, meanwhile, is believed to enjoy a stable support base among certain tea garden communities, strengthening its prospects in the event of a divided or unsettled BJP camp.
In the present political landscape, observers maintain that Suren Phukan has increasingly come to be perceived as a familiar face associated with development initiatives and constituency-level engagement, factors that continue to work in his favour.
Several BJP leaders, including Mulendra Moran, Natta Bhushan Sonowal, Arunjyoti Moran, Prashant Saikia, Lakhya Konwar, Parul Gogoi, Bhadreshwar Moran, Nav Moran, and others, have intensified political activity in recent months, leading to visible factionalism within the party.
Notably, all BJP ticket aspirants are currently working on the ground in a spirit of mutual understanding, which, if not managed carefully, could prove costly for Phukan should alignment fail at a critical stage.
The visit of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to the district on January 25 is also being closely watched, as he is expected to address the public in Doomdoma, located near Digboi. Political analysts say the event could further bolster the BJP's visibility and consolidate support for the party's sitting legislator.
On the Congress front, competition for the ticket remains intense, with leaders such as Dulal Moran, Biraj Rajkonwar, Lakheshwar Moran, Bhaskar Jeevan Barua, Runashree Saikia, Gun Kant Gogoi, Binod Kharia, Bharat Nayak, Rajeev Moran, and Ignayesh Ekka actively engaged in public outreach to bolster their claims.
With a diverse electorate and multiple aspirants across parties, maintaining unity after ticket distribution is expected to be a key challenge. As political activity intensifies, Suren Phukan remains a central figure in Digboi's evolving electoral dynamics.