Jonai (ST) constituency assembly elections 2026: BJP’s Bhuban Pegu beats Congress's Hema Hari Prasanna Pegu

NEW DELHI: In Assam’s Jonai (ST) constituency, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Bhuban Pegu won against Congress candidate Hema Hari Prasanna Pegu by a margin of of over 80,000 votes. He secured a total of 1,28,940 votes.According to exit polls released by multiple agencies, the BJP-led government is expected to secure a comfortable majority in the state, a result that would allow incumbent chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to retain his position.Voting for all 126 constituencies in Assam was conducted on April 9, with the state recording a turnout exceeding 85 per cent, one of the highest in recent years. Notably, the strong voter participation was visible across both rural and urban regions, indicating broad-based and energetic engagement from the electorate.Jonai (ST) is a Scheduled Tribe-reserved assembly constituency in Assam's Dhemaji district, part of the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha area, characterised by remote rural terrain, tribal Mishing populations, and heavy reliance on agriculture amid frequent flooding.Bhubon Pegu of the BJP is the current MLA, having won in 2021 after independent victories in 2016 and 2006.In 2021, he won decisively with 168,411 votes, defeating INC's Hema Hari Pegu (57,424 votes) by a massive margin of 110,987 votes.Catastrophic annual floods from the Brahmaputra and local rivers erode farmlands, displace communities, and demand stronger embankments and early warning systems. Underdeveloped infrastructure, like roads, bridges, and healthcare access, hampers connectivity in this hilly-riverine zone. Youth unemployment, ST welfare schemes, and cultural preservation for indigenous groups fuel electoral priorities.