The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has officially released its first list of 88 candidates for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, concluding a period of intense speculation regarding candidate selections. Among the candidates, the BJP has included two new entrants from the Congress party: Pradyut Bordoloi, who will contest from Dispur, and Bhupen Kumar Borah from Bihpuria.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will be running again from his stronghold, Jalukbari, while other notable candidates include Ranjeet Kumar Dass for Bhowanipur-Sorbhog, Jayanta Malla Baruah from Nalbari, Chandra Mohan Patowary in Tihu, and Biswajit Daimary representing Tamulpur. Additional candidates include Ranoj Pegu (Dhemaji), Ashok Singhal (Dhekiajuli), Dr. Rajdeep Roy (Silchar), Pallab Lochan Das (Biswanath), Rameswar Teli (Duliajan), and Sushanta Borgohain (Demow).
In a progressive move, the BJP has allocated candidacies to women, fielding six female candidates: Madhavi Das (Birsing-Jarua), Jyotsna Kalita (Chamaria), Nilima Devi (Mangaldai), Ajanta Neog (Golaghat), Niso Terangpi (Diphu), and Rupali Langthasa (Haflong).
This candidate list was finalized during a meeting led by party president Nitin Nabin, attended by prominent figures such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and other senior party officials, including Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia.
A noteworthy aspect of this announcement is the omission of 15 sitting MLAs from the candidate list, including prominent legislators Siddhartha Bhattacharya from New Guwahati and Atul Bora from Dispur. This change affects several sitting legislators from various constituencies, such as Bihpuria, Bijni, Hojai, Katigorah, Silchar, Udharbond, Abhayapuri, Palashbari, Biswanath, Borsola, Bihali, Bokajan, Diphu, and Haflong.
The finalization of this candidate list highlights a blend of continuity and evolution in the BJP’s electoral strategy, as the party readies itself for the forthcoming Assembly elections.
