As counting trends solidify in Assam, the Congress has opened leads in several constituencies. However, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is on course to return the Bharatiya Janata Party to power for a third consecutive term, dealing a sharp setback to Congress and a fractured opposition.The ruling BJP had won three seats and was ahead in 78 others, while its ally, the Bodoland People’s Front, secured one seat and was leading in nine. Another NDA partner, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), was also ahead in nine constituencies.Among other players, the AIUDF led by Badruddin Ajmal and Akhil Gogoi’s Raijor Dal were ahead in two seats each, while the Trinamool Congress and an Independent candidate were leading in one constituency each.
