Overview

• Counting began at 8 a.m. on September 26 with postal ballots taken up first under tight security, and the returning officer reported a smooth process with only election agents allowed inside centers.
• By late Friday, multiple tallies showed the BPF leading in over 20 seats, with the BJP and UPPL trailing in the single digits to low double digits as counting continued.
• Final results are expected by Saturday, with the slow pace attributed to paper ballots and officials indicating the schedule allows completion by September 27–28.
• Rivals within the NDA contested separately, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma flagged potential BPF–UPPL, UPPL–BJP, or BPF–BJP tie-ups once results are in.
• Turnout reached about 78.42% of 26.58 lakh voters across five districts, and 316 candidates contested the 40 seats, 30 of which are reserved for Scheduled Tribes.