Assam Election 2026: Your guide to party hoppers so that you press the right button

As Assam nears April 9 polls, politicians switch parties with acrobatic ease, citing bruised egos or denied tickets. Our essential field guide to Assam’s political migrants so you can find your candidate before they find another party.

As Assam heads toward its April 9 assembly election, a migration season is underway. Only this time, the species is political. Leaders are hopping parties with impressive agility, citing everything from “hurt sentiments” to denial of tickets.

And the season isn’t over yet. With nominations open till March 23, more wounded egos are expected to discover fresh ideological homes.

For voters, this has turned into a high-stakes memory test. The candidate you voted for last time may now be contesting against that very party. Or your chosen party may have fielded someone you could not stand ideologically till the other day.

As a public service—because someone has to keep track—India Today NE presents this handy directory of movers and shameless switchers.

Bookmark it, screenshot it, tattoo it on your arm if you must. In this election, recognising your candidate may be harder than choosing one.

Name	Original Party	Previous Position/Status	Switched To	Current Status/Constituency
Pradyut Bordoloi	Congress	MP (Nagaon)	BJP	To contest from Dispur
Bhupen Kumar Borah	Congress	Former Assam Congress(APCC) President	BJP	To contest from Bihpuria
Sherman Ali	Congress	MLA (Mandia)	Raijor Dol	No ticket
Kamalakhya Dey Purukayastha	Congress	MLA (Katigorah)	BJP	To contest from Katigorah
Nandita Garlosa	BJP	Assam Cabinet minister	Likely to Join Congress	No ticket
Tapan Gogoi	BJP	Former MP (Jorhat)	Likely to Join Congress	No ticket
Navajyoti Talukdar	Congress	Assam Congress, Vice-President	BJP	No ticket
Rajen Gohain	BJP	Former Union Minister	AJP	To contest from Barhampur
Bhupen Roy	AGP	Former MLA (Abhayapuri North)	BJP	To contest from Abhayapuri
Aminul Islam	AIUDF	MLA (Mankachar)	NPP	To contest from Mankachar
Horen Singh Bey	BJP	Former MP (Diphu)	NA	To contest independently
Nihar Ranjan Das	BJP	MLA (Dholai)	NA	To contest independently
Rejaul Karim Laskar	Congress	All Assam Minority Students' Union(AAMSU) President	AIUDF	To contest from Srijangram Assembly constituency
Karim Uddin Barbhuiya	AIUDF	MLA (Sonai)	AGP	To contest from Sonai
Atul Bora	BJP	MLA (Dispur)	NA	Likely to contest independently
Basanta Das	Congress	MLA (Mangaldai)	BJP	No ticket
Prakash Das	BJP	Former All Assam Students' Union (AASU) leader	AGP	To contest from Hajo- Sualkuchi (SC)
Ramendra Nath Kalita	AGP	MLA (West Guwahati)	NA	No ticket
Shashikanta Das	Congress	MLA (Raha)	BJP	To contest from Raha
Zakir Hussain	AIUDF	MLA (Hailakandi)	AGP	To contest Algapur–Katlicherra