Guwahati: As the 2026 Assam Assembly elections approach, the Guwahati Central Assembly Constituency has emerged as one of the most important urban battlegrounds. In this high-profile seat, Kunki Chowdhury, the youngest candidate from the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), has stepped into the political arena with a focus on urban issues and youth participation.
Her entry has added a new and youthful dimension to the contest in a constituency that represents the commercial heart of Assam.
Kunki Chowdhury comes from an academic background and represents a new generation of educated candidates entering politics. She completed her schooling in Guwahati at Shrimanta Shankar Academy.
She later moved to Mumbai and studied at the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a specialisation in Family Business and Entrepreneurship.
In 2025, she completed her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University College London (UCL).
Although she studied outside the state, Chowdhury says her decision to enter politics is driven by a desire to contribute to Assam. She believes there is often a gap between government policies and the real problems faced by people, especially in cities.
Her family also has a connection with politics. On her maternal side, one of her uncles was an MLA from Kalimpong and was involved in the Gorkha movement. However, Chowdhury herself entered politics only recently.
According to her, the opportunity came when the Assam Jatiya Parishad approached her last month to contest from Guwahati Central. She says she accepted the offer with the aim of promoting transparent and accountable politics.
Kunki Chowdhury’s campaign focuses mainly on five key issues affecting the residents of Guwahati Central.
The first is the problem of artificial floods during the monsoon. Many parts of Guwahati face serious waterlogging due to poor drainage. She has proposed scientific drainage planning and better infrastructure to solve the problem.
The second focus is skill development for youth. She plans to set up “Skill Hub Centres” in the constituency to provide vocational training and encourage entrepreneurship among young people.
Her third proposal addresses traffic congestion and parking problems, especially in crowded areas like Paltan Bazar and Fancy Bazar. She has suggested introducing smart parking systems to reduce traffic pressure.
The fourth issue is waste management. Chowdhury says better systems for garbage collection and disposal are necessary to keep the city clean.
The fifth promise is related to domestic gas pipeline connectivity. Many residents are still waiting for connections, and she says faster implementation of the scheme is needed.
Apart from these five promises, Chowdhury has also spoken about several other issues.
She has highlighted the need for better safety for women, including increased police patrolling and stronger security measures in public spaces.
She has also emphasised improving public services, such as government hospitals, health centres and local schools.
For community welfare, she has proposed designated vending zones for street vendors and the development of community libraries to encourage learning and public engagement.
She describes her approach as an “Assam First” vision, which aims to combine modern governance ideas with local needs.
The Guwahati Central Assembly Constituency (No. 36) was created during the 2023 delimitation process, by reorganising parts of the earlier Gauhati East and Gauhati West constituencies.
The constituency has around 1,91,758 voters and is known for its cosmopolitan population, including Assamese, Hindi and Bengali-speaking communities. The electorate mainly consists of traders, professionals, middle-class families and a large number of young voters.
It includes some of the most important commercial areas of the city such as Fancy Bazar, Paltan Bazar and Machkhowa.
Because it is the commercial nerve centre of Assam, the constituency faces many urban challenges. These include artificial flooding, traffic congestion, parking shortages, garbage management issues and irregular water supply.
At the same time, political discussions in the area also involve debates around representation, governance and urban development.
Kunki Chowdhury is contesting against BJP leader Vijay Kumar Gupta, a seasoned political figure. The contest has therefore drawn attention because it represents a contrast between experience and new leadership.
While it remains to be seen how voters will respond, Chowdhury’s campaign has already brought a fresh and youthful narrative into the political landscape of Guwahati Central.
As the election campaign continues, the constituency is expected to remain one of the most closely watched seats in urban Assam, reflecting both the challenges and aspirations of a rapidly growing city.
