Assam polls: BJP releases list of 88 nominees; ex-Cong leaders among contestants

Veteran lawmaker Atul Bora, who has been denied a ticket, said he could contest as an independent or support the Congress candidate from Dispur

Published on: Mar 19, 2026, 13:10:18 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday released its list of 88 candidates, including former Congress leaders Bhupen Kumar Borah and Pradyut Bordoloi, for next month’s Assam assembly election, four days ahead of the last date of nominations on March 23.

Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will contest from Jalukbari. (X)

The party is contesting 89 of the 126 seats, leaving 37 to its allies Asom Gana Parishad (26) and Bodoland Peoples Front (11). “Candidate for Sissiborgaon has not been decided yet. We will finalise that soon,” said Assam BJP chief Dilip Saikia.

Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will contest from Jalukbari near Guwahati, from where he has won five consecutive elections since 2001.

Borah, who joined the BJP last month, will contest from Bihpuria. Pradyut Bordoloi, who quit as the Congress Lok Sabha member from Nagaon and switched sides on Wednesday, has been fielded from Dispur.

Turncoat Congress lawmakers Sashi Kanta Das and Kamalakhya De Purkayastha have been given tickets from the Raha and Katigorah seats. Another Congress lawmaker, Basanta Das, who joined the BJP last month, does not figure on the list.

Former assembly speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami has been fielded against Congress state chief Gaurav Gogoi from Jorhat. The list includes five women, while 18 lawmakers have been denied tickets.

Veteran lawmaker Atul Bora, who has been denied a ticket, said he could contest as an independent or support the Congress candidate from Dispur. Pradyut Bordoloi has been named as the BJP candidate from Dispur in Bora’s place.

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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