The CNN-News18 Assam Exit Poll 2026 reveals a decisive lead for Himanta Biswa Sarma, the incumbent Chief Minister of Assam, with 51.2% of voters favoring him compared to 37.2% for Gaurav Gogoi of the Congress party. This translates to a 14-point gap, suggesting a consolidated mandate rather than a close contest. The BJP+ coalition is projected to receive 46.1% of the vote share, while the Congress bloc stands at 41.2%. Notably, Sarma's support is broad, with significant backing from Scheduled Castes (68.8%), Scheduled Tribes (66.8%), Other Backward Classes (66.5%), and upper castes (66.7%). Conversely, around 71.2% of Muslim voters are expected to support the Congress alliance, highlighting a key religious divide in voter preferences. The exit poll projects the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to win between 90 and 100 seats in the 126-seat assembly, with the BJP alone potentially securing 72-78 seats, indicating a strong majority. Voter concerns regarding unemployment (24%) and illegal immigration (17.8%) have been central to Sarma's campaign, reinforcing his image as a decisive leader focused on governance and identity politics. His commitment to intensifying eviction drives against illegal immigrants and land encroachment has resonated with voters, solidifying his position ahead of the elections.