Congress announce first list for Assam polls; Gaurav Gogoi to contest from Jorhat | India News

GUWAHATI: In a sudden move, with the opposition alliance yet to be fully formed, the AICC on Tuesday released the first list of 42 candidates for the Assam Assembly elections. The announcement put the Congress on a collision course with Akhil Gogoi-led regional party Raijo’s Party, which had hoped to secure some of these seats from the Congress after the alliance was finalised.Among the most prominent names in the 42-candidate list are Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi (Jorhat), Leader of the Opposition Debbrata Saikia (Nazira), and Congress MLAs Nandita Das (Hajo-Sualkuchi) and Digant Burman (Barkhetri).Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress president Meera Borthakur Goswami has been nominated from Dispur constituency in Guwahati. Youth leaders Tanzil Hussain and Prateek Bordoloi, sons of Congress MP Rakibul Hussain and Pradyut Bordoloi got tickets from Samaguri and Margherita respectively.The Congress’s decision to field former Assam PCC president Ripun Bora from Barchalla and contest from Demo and Gouripur upset Raijo’s party, even though alliance talks between the two were at an advanced stage.Gaurav Gogoi, sitting Lok Sabha MP from Jorhat, expressed gratitude to AICC leaders and Central Election Committee for nominating him from Jorhat Assembly seat.“I am grateful to the people of Jorhat Lok Sabha without whom I could not have reached this position. I am grateful to my late father Tarun Gogoi who taught me what it means to be an Assamese and a Congressman,” Gaurav wrote on X.“I am also grateful to my family, my mother, sister, wife and two young children who have endured a lot but always with grace, joy and dignity. To my fellow Congress brothers, sisters, colleagues and elders, the time is now to take Assam in a new and bold direction,” he wrote, urging people to once again dream of a great Natun Bor Assam.Congress alliance plans with AJP, APHLC and the Left are nearing finalisation, but talks with Raizo’s party have stalled.Raijo’s party said on Monday that an alliance with the Congress could be forged if the Congress agrees to give five preferred seats out of the 13-member list. “Raizor’s party has strong candidates for Barchalla and Demo seats. Most importantly, in 2021 bypolls we got more votes than Congress in Demos. Our party workers were very enthusiastic this time. So this first Congress list is a big disappointment for our party,” Raizor’s party spokesperson Russell Hussain told TOI.