Assam polls: BJP releases list of 88; CM Sarma to contest from Jalukbari, Pradyut Bordoloi in Dispur
New Delhi, March 19
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday released its first list of candidates for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, announcing nominees for 88 constituencies across the state.
The list was finalised at a meeting of the party's Central Election Committee, chaired by the top leadership of the party.
The list features several prominent leaders, including Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who will contest from Jalukbari, a seat he currently represents and is considered a BJP stronghold.
Senior Minister Chandramohan Patowary has been fielded from Tihu, while state Finance Minister Ajanta Neog will contest from her earlier seat, Golaghat.
In key urban constituencies, the BJP has nominated Pradyut Bordoloi from Dispur, Diplu Ranjan Sarmah from New Guwahati, and Vijay Kumar Gupta from Guwahati Central, signalling a strong focus on retaining its hold over its bastion.
Notably, Bordoloi joined the BJP, snapping long ties with the Congress party on Wednesday in the national capital, and has also resigned from the post of Nagaon Lok Sabha seat.
Among other important seats, the party has fielded candidates in Upper Assam strongholds such as Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Digboi, Doom Dooma and Margherita.
Bhaskar Sharma has been nominated from Margherita, while Prasanta Phukan will contest from Dibrugarh and Suren Phukan from Digboi.
The BJP has also announced candidates for several constituencies in Central and Lower Assam, including Rangia, Nalbari, Barhampur, Samaguri and Nagaon.
In Barhampur, the party has fielded Jitu Goswami, while Rupak Sarmah will contest from Nagaon-Batadraba.
In tribal and reserved constituencies, the party has nominated candidates in seats such as Boko-Chaygaon (ST), Tamulpur (ST), Dhemaji (ST), Majuli (ST), Bokajan (ST) and Diphu (ST), indicating its continued outreach to indigenous communities.
The first list reflects a mix of experienced leaders and new faces, with the party aiming to consolidate its electoral base across regions.
The BJP is expected to announce additional candidates in the coming days as it finalises its strategy for the high-stakes Assembly polls.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting to see Pradyut Bordoloi switching sides so close to the polls! 🤔 From Congress to BJP and contesting from Dispur... politics is full of surprises. Hope this political musical chairs doesn't distract from the real issues facing Assam.
The outreach to tribal constituencies (ST seats) is a smart move. Parties often ignore the indigenous communities after elections. Hope the nominated candidates actually work for the people of Majuli, Diphu, and other areas, not just during campaign season.
As an observer, the mix of experienced leaders and new faces seems balanced. Retaining strongholds like Upper Assam is crucial for BJP. The real test will be performance on ground - infrastructure, jobs, and managing floods.
With due respect, I wish the candidate selection focused more on merit and less on political calculations. Some of these seats have been with the same leaders for years. Where is the space for fresh, young voices with new ideas? The "mix" seems tilted heavily towards the old guard.
Ajanta Neog in Golaghat is a good choice. She has done decent work. My main concern is about the candidates in the tea garden areas - Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Doom Dooma. The chai bagan workers need proper representation and policies. Fingers crossed! 🤞
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