Guwahati, Jan 8: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said that seat-sharing discussions within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections are expected to be finalised by February 15 after meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Speaking to reporters during an official programme in Dhemaji, Sarma said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is holding consultations with its allies, including the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), to arrive at a mutually agreed seat-sharing arrangement. He said Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) chief Hagrama Mohilary also took part in the meeting in New Delhi, which followed earlier discussions between United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) president Pramod Boro and Amit Shah.

Sarma, who travelled to New Delhi on Tuesday and returned on Wednesday morning, said he also held detailed talks with AGP president Atul Bora. He said discussions are continuing and expressed confidence that the seat-sharing issue would be resolved without difficulty.

The new timeline marks a delay from the earlier target of January 15, which was expected before Magh Bihu. Sarma did not specify the reason for the revised schedule.

The NDA in Assam is led by the BJP and includes AGP, UPPL, BPF, Rabha Hasong Joutha Sangram Samiti (RHJSS), and Janashakti Party (JP). In the 126-member Assam Assembly, the BJP currently holds 64 seats, while AGP has nine, UPPL seven, and BPF three. The opposition includes Congress with 26 seats, AIUDF with 15 seats, CPI(M) with one seat, and one Independent member.

Sarma said new candidates often gain an advantage in elections and said a similar trend is expected this time. Assam Assembly elections are scheduled for March–April, with NDA leaders targeting more than 100 seats.