In the just finalised candidate list for 118 constituencies, 50 out of 54 sitting MLAs have been re-nominated by the party.
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi has been re-nominated from Titabar constituency, whereas Congress heavyweight and incumbent health minister Himanata Biswa Sarma will contest the Jalukbari constituency. Son of former chief minister Hiteswar Saikia, Debabrata Saikia, has been fielded from Nazira and wife of former Union minister Santosh Kumar Deb has been replaced by her daughter, Sushmita Deb, in Silchar constituency.
Owing to internal infighting, candidates for 8 constituencies – Guwahati (West), Tezpur, Haflong, Goalpara (West), Sarbhog, Tinkhong, Gohpur and Jamunamukh – have not yet been finalised. In the 118 candidates’ list, the party has given tickets to 19 women candidates and 20 youth.
With pre-poll alliance with coalition partner Bodoland Peoples’ Front (BPF) having failed, Congress will be going out all alone in the polls. The party has finalised to contest all the 12 seats in Bodoland Territorial Administered Districts (BTAD) against BPF and the latter will also follow suit by contesting few seats outside its turf, including in Guwahati. In the last assembly election in 2006, BPF had won 11 out of 12 seats in BTAD.
Assam goes for polls on April 4 and April 11.
