Politics is not just a game of numbers; it is also a field shaped by experience. In Assam, eight MLAs who are now above the age of 70 are preparing to contest the upcoming Assembly elections, reflecting the continued presence of senior leadership in state politics.
The oldest serving legislator in the current Assembly is Dispur MLA Atul Bora of the BJP. According to his 2021 election affidavit, he was 69 years old at the time. Having now crossed 70, he is once again preparing for the electoral battle.
Other members in the “70-plus club” include:
- Pradip Hazarika, AGP MLA from Amguri, who was 68 years old in 2021.
- Manoranjan Talukdar of CPI(M), MLA from Sarbhog, who was 67 during the last election.
- Misbahul Islam Laskar, Congress MLA from Barkhola, who was 66 in 2021.
- Prasanta Phukan, BJP MLA from Dibrugarh, aged 66 in 2021.
- Renupoma Rajkhowa, MLA from Teok, listed as 66 in 2021.
- Bidya Sing Engleng, MLA from Diphu, who was 66 during the previous election.
- Chandra Mohan Patowary, who was 65 at the time of the last election and has now reached 70.
Among these eight senior legislators, the BJP has the highest representation.
According to 2021 data, the Assam Assembly had 51 MLAs in the 51–60 age group and 18 MLAs between 61–70 years. In comparison, the presence of active politicians above 70 highlights the depth of experience in state politics.
At the other end of the spectrum, nine MLAs in the current Assembly were between 25 and 40 years of age as per their 2021 affidavits.
The youngest MLA in Assam is Ashraful Hussain from Chenga constituency in Barpeta district, who was 27 years old in 2021. Other MLAs below 40 include:
- Dr. Asif Mohammed Nazar from Laharighat (32 years)
- Ajay Kumar Ray from Bijni (34 years)
- Jolen Daimary from Tamulpur (35 years)
Meanwhile, women’s representation in the 126-member Assam Assembly remains low. Only seven MLAs — around 6% — are women.
The age distribution in the Assembly reflects a mix of youth and experience, with senior leaders continuing to play a key role while younger legislators gradually make their presence felt in Assam’s political landscape.
