Assam Chief Minister Casts Vote at Newly Assigned Garal Polling Station
Guwahati: In a significant shift from his long-standing voting routine, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma exercised his franchise on Thursday at a newly designated polling station in Garal. This change comes after the recent delimitation process redrew constituency boundaries across the state, altering electoral landscapes and voter assignments.
End of an Era at Amingaon High School
For many years, Chief Minister Sarma had consistently voted at Amingaon High School in North Guwahati, located on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River. However, the delimitation exercise moved his polling station out of the Jalukbari constituency and into the newly created Hajo-Sualkuchi constituency. Consequently, his assigned voting location shifted to Garal on the southern bank of the river.
Sarma arrived at the Garal Buniyadi Lower Primary School around noon to cast his vote. This polling station, which previously fell under the now-defunct West Guwahati constituency, has been incorporated into Jalukbari following the comprehensive constituency overhaul. The Chief Minister is contesting from Jalukbari and is seeking a remarkable sixth consecutive victory in this Assembly seat.
Religious and Electoral Convergence in Garal
Before proceeding to the polling station, Sarma offered prayers at the revered Kamakhya Temple and Doul Govinda Temple. Upon his arrival at Garal, enthusiastic voters gathered outside to greet him and capture selfies with the state's leader.
The Garal area, renowned for the Manasa Temple and several other shrines associated with shakti worship, has now entered the chief minister's direct electoral circuit. Some local residents expressed optimism that this shift could bring greater attention to their religious sites, particularly with the proposed Guwahati Aerocity development planned nearby.
Confidence in Development Mandate
Speaking to media persons outside the polling station, Sarma expressed strong confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party's prospects. "I think people are going to give a decisive mandate for the development of Assam," he stated emphatically.
He further elaborated on his voting philosophy: "Like every other citizen, voting is also my responsibility. I have voted in my polling station for Assam's progress and wellbeing. The decision voters take today will decide the direction of Assam's future in the next five years." Sarma was accompanied by his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, son Nandil Biswa Sarma, and daughter Sukanya Sarma, who all cast their votes alongside him.
Administrative Shift and Electoral History
Election officials confirmed that Sarma and his family formally transferred their names to the Garal polling station during the last special revision conducted in 2025. "His name no longer exists in the Amingaon High School polling station," clarified an election official, noting that the move to Garal represented Sarma's personal decision. Official documents list the Chief Minister as a resident of a flat in the nearby Dharapur-Garal area within Kamrup (Metro) district.
Reflecting on his campaign efforts, Sarma acknowledged that he could not conduct extensive campaigning in Jalukbari due to his responsibilities leading NDA outreach across Assam. However, he committed to working relentlessly for the constituency after the election concludes.
His electoral journey in Jalukbari began with a defeat in the 1996 Assembly polls to former AGP minister and Assam Agitation leader Bhrigu Kumar Phukan. Sarma later turned the tables, defeating Phukan in the 2011 elections and has since consistently expanded his winning margin in successive electoral battles.
Weather Concerns and Voter Expectations
The Chief Minister also addressed initial concerns about voter turnout, revealing that party candidates were worried by low polling percentages in several parts of the state due to morning rains. However, he expressed encouragement as turnout improved later in the day. Respecting silence period restrictions, Sarma declined to comment on projected BJP or NDA seat tallies.
At the polling station, local voters voiced strong support for Sarma and shared their development expectations for Garal. Voter Dilip Sarma expressed optimism: "When he is representing our constituency and our polling station, we can expect all the good works here in and around Garal."
Another resident, Raghunath Barua, highlighted the area's religious significance and educational needs: "We hope Garal will be part of an important religious circuit. There are not many demands, but we want some quality educational institutions in the area for skilling the students and youths."
The delimitation-driven shift in polling stations represents more than just an administrative change—it symbolizes the evolving political and developmental landscape of Assam as the state progresses through another significant electoral exercise.
