67 candidates withdraw nominations from upcoming Assam polls, 722 remain in fray

Assam polls see 67 withdrawals, including an AIUDF MLA who switched to NPP; 722 candidates remain ahead of April 9 voting across 126 seats.

Published on: Mar 26, 2026, 22:00:04 IST

By Utpal Parashar, Guwahati

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At least 67 candidates, including a legislator who recently switched from the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) to the National People’s Party (NPP) prior to filing nominations, withdrew from the fray on Thursday for the upcoming Assam assembly elections, bringing the total number of contestants down to 722, officials said.

67 candidates withdraw from Assam assembly polls (Representative photo)

Aminul Islam, who won from the Mankachar seat in 2021 on an AIUDF ticket, had switched to the NPP after being denied a ticket. But on Thursday, the 50-year-old withdrew his nomination papers, according to the Election Commission (EC).

A total of 815 candidates had filed 1,389 nomination papers across 126 constituencies in the state. Following scrutiny, 789 candidates were found eligible on Wednesday to contest.

“Out of 789 validly nominated candidates, a total of 67 candidates have withdrawn their candidature on Thursday. Consequently, 722 candidates remain in the fray,” the Assam state election office stated in a release.

On Wednesday, the EC had rejected the nomination papers of a Congress candidate from the Barpeta assembly constituency in Assam for discrepancies.

According to the Barpeta district commissioner’s office, the two sets of nomination papers submitted by the Congress candidate, Mahananda Sarkar, for the scheduled caste (SC) reserved seat were rejected due to discrepancies in Form A, which is submitted along with other documents.

Voting for the single-phase election to all 126 assembly seats in Assam will take place on April 9, and counting will be held on May 4.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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