Sarabananda Sonowal can be a giant-killer if the Exit Polls are to be believed.

For the BJP, it’s one of its best showings ever, in Assam.

According to C-Voter, the BJP and its allies are set to win between 53 and 61 seats in the state. Most of the other Exit polls have also indicated a comfortable win for the BJP in the state.

Consider this – in the last state elections, the BJP and allies won just 27 seats.
The ruling Congress looks like it will take quite a beating – reduced to between 37 and 45 seats, from the last state election’s 78.

The AIUDF, which could be a key player in government formation, may get 14 to 22 seats while others may win 6 to 14 seats in the state.
Exit polls conducted by ABP News and Chanakya say that the BJP is going to win as many as 81+ and 90+ seats respectively. India Today-Axis too predicts as many as 86 seats for the BJP.

Assam, meanwhile, recorded its highest ever polling percentage – 84.72 percent.
CM Gogoi chose to not believe the exit poll results.
“I don’t see why there will be anti-incumbency,” is what he said after the exit poll results. “I trust the people of Assam, they know how much development has happened under us”, he told ANI.

The BJP’s decision to field Sonowal as the chief ministerial candidate marked a big strategic shift for the party. The BJP has come to believe it lost last November’s Assembly elections in Bihar because it ignored Strong Local leaders. And Sonowal is certainly a Strong Local Leader.

Sonowal’s slogan was ‘Sakalore Ananda Sarbananda’ – which means, ‘Everyone’s happiness is Sarbananda’.

For today, not just everyone, but even Sonowal, the 53-year-old bachelor, must be happy.