Guwahati (Assam): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released its first list of 88 candidates for the Assam Assembly elections. In this list, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been fielded from the Jalukbari constituency. Meanwhile, two prominent Congress leaders—Pradyut Bordoloi and Bhupen Kumar Bora—have also been fielded in the elections.
Pradyut Bordoloi, who left the Congress to join the BJP, has been fielded by the BJP from the Dispur Assembly seat in Assam. Bordoloi had severed his long-standing ties with the Congress on Wednesday. Additionally, former Congress State President Bhupen Kumar Bora—who had left the party a few weeks ago—will contest from Bihpuria. He had lost this seat to BJP candidates in the previous two elections.
However, now under the BJP banner, the two-time MLA is seeking a third victory.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is set to contest from his traditional Jalukbari constituency. BJP Minister Piyush Hazarika will contest from Jagiroad, Rupali Langthasa from Haflong, and Prashant Phukan from Dibrugarh. Sitting MLA Hitendra Nath Goswami will defend his Jorhat seat against Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi.
Bordoloi’s Son Pratik Refuses to Contest on Congress Ticket
Meanwhile, Pratik Bordoloi has withdrawn his candidature from the Congress for the Margherita Assembly constituency following his father Pradyut Bordoloi’s decision to join the BJP.
In a letter addressed on Wednesday to Congress President and Chairman of the Central Election Committee, Mallikarjun Kharge, Pratik stated that he would remain a member of the party. In the letter, Pratik explained that, following his father’s decision to join another political party, it would not be appropriate for him to continue as the Congress candidate from Margherita. “He said, ‘With the utmost respect for the party and a deep sense of responsibility, I wish to convey my decision to withdraw my candidature from the Margherita Assembly constituency.’ Pratik emphasized that he would continue to work for the party in whatever capacity the leadership deems appropriate. His father served in the Congress for over five decades; after resigning from the party on Tuesday, he joined the BJP the very next day.”
