Why does Prodeep Hazarika, the candidate from Sivasagar, remain the trusted face of the AGP in Assam?

Anand Kumar
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Anand Kumar
Anand Kumar
Senior Journalist Editor
Anand Kumar is a Senior Journalist at Global India Broadcast News, covering national affairs, education, and digital media. He focuses on fact-based reporting and in-depth analysis...
- Senior Journalist Editor
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Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) senior leader and veteran of Assam politics, Prodeep Hazarika, is contesting the 2026 Assam Assembly elections from Sivasagar constituency. Hazarika, a founding member of the regional movement that reshaped Assam in the 1980s, is one of the party’s most consistent figures.

For the 2026 elections, Hazarika is locked in a high-stakes battle against Pranjal Gohain (Congress) and Diganta Saikia (BJP).
For the 2026 elections, Hazarika is locked in a high-stakes battle against Pranjal Gohain (Congress) and Diganta Saikia (BJP).

After the 2023 delimitation exercise, which saw his long-held Amguri seat dissolved, Hazarika has shifted his base to lead the AGP’s offensive in the historic Sivasagar sector.

The 2026 Hazarika campaign represents a test of regional resilience. Rooted in the politics of the Assam movement, he has built his career around issues of identity, local development and constituency-level governance. During his election campaign, he viewed the election as necessary to maintain a “local voice” in the assembly, focusing on nurturing tea gardens, rural infrastructure, and protecting indigenous rights.

early life

Prodeep Hazarika was born around 1953 (age 73), son of late Gunesh Hazarika. He is a product of the historic Assam Movement (1979-1985) and was among the young activists who moved into electoral politics when the AGP was formed after the 1985 Assam Accord.

Unlike many of his contemporaries who migrated to national parties, Hazarika remained firmly with the AGP for four decades. He is highly educated, holds a postgraduate degree, and his career before formal politics was closely linked to local organizational work in upper Assam.

About Sivasagar Contest

Amguri constituency has been Hazarika’s political stronghold for decades, but the administrative redrawing of boundaries led him to file his nomination from Sivasagar for the 2026 elections. His affidavit, uploaded in March 2026, lists him as the AGP candidate in Sivasagar.

For the 2026 elections, Hazarika is locked in a high-stakes battle against Pranjal Gohain (Congress) and Diganta Saikia (BJP).

His campaign focused on his track record in “constituency development”, promising to upgrade tea garden infrastructure and secure land rights. If re-elected, he has pledged to advocate for the preservation of Ahom era heritage in Sivasagar and improve irrigation facilities for farmers in the region.

Primary opponents

Akhil Gogoi (Raijor Dal): A high-ranking MLA and president of the Raijor Dal. Gogoi, who won this seat in 2021 while in prison, is a heavyweight in the opposition alliance. He campaigns on a “son of the soil” platform and is an outspoken critic of both the BJP and the AGP.

Kushal Duwari (BJP-BJP): In a rare “friendly rivalry” between NDA allies, the BJP has pitted Duwari against its ally, the RJD. Al-Duwari is a former MLA from the former Revolutionary Constituency and a former member of the ULFA. His entry has turned the seat into a rare triangular battle with two allies (AGP and BJP) vying for the same voter base.

What happened in the previous elections?

Prodeep Hazarika has been elected to the Assam Legislative Assembly several times, most notably in 1985, 1996, 2006 and 2016. His career is defined by his ability to maintain a dedicated voter base even during waves of National Party dominance.

Read also: Assam exit poll shows big lead for BJP, Himanta Biswa Sarma government headed for another term

In the 2021 Assembly elections, Hazarika won the Amguri seat by 49,891 votes (48%), defeating Angkita Dutta of the Congress in a closely watched contest. Although he lost his traditional seat in border demarcation, he still represents a central political authority in the region. Polling for his seat ended on April 9, 2026, with Hazarika banking on his “son of the soil” image to score a historic victory in this new electoral landscape.

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Anand Kumar
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Anand Kumar is a Senior Journalist at Global India Broadcast News, covering national affairs, education, and digital media. He focuses on fact-based reporting and in-depth analysis of current events.
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