Guwahati, Mar 31: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), have decided to contest the upcoming Assam Panchayat elections together. The announcement came after a meeting of leaders from both parties on Sunday at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Bhawan in Basistha, Guwahati.

BJP MP and state party president Dilip Saikia confirmed the alliance, stating that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Assam remains united for both the Panchayat elections and the 2026 Assembly elections. “We are fully prepared to fight the Panchayat elections together. A senior leader will oversee coordination, and district-level party workers will be involved in planning the election strategy,” he said.

AGP President and Assam Minister Atul Bora reiterated the commitment, calling the Panchayat elections a “semi-final” before the Assembly elections. He emphasized that development work under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s leadership has been a key factor in their strategy.

Assam Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass announced that the Panchayat elections are scheduled for April, with the Assam State Election Commission expected to declare the dates soon. “If the poll dates are announced on April 3, the election process will conclude by May 3. If declared on April 4, 5, or 6, it will be completed by May 4, 5, or 6,” he stated.

Dass also clarified that political parties will not field candidates at the Gram Panchayat level, while candidates from political parties can contest for seats in the Anchalik Panchayat and Zila Parishad. The existing two-child norm and educational qualification criteria will remain applicable.

Meanwhile, the Assam government has passed the Assam Panchayat (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the state assembly. The bill introduces new regulations for managing rural markets (Haats), assigning them to different Panchayat bodies based on revenue generation. Haats generating Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh annually will be managed by the respective Anchalik Panchayat, while those exceeding Rs 10 lakh will fall under the jurisdiction of the Zila Parishad. The bill also grants tendering authority to Standing Committees under Section 81 of the Panchayat Act, with changes set to take effect from the next Panchayat year.