11 new faces in BJP's first list of candidates for Assam Assembly polls

BJP gives 26 seats to AGP, eight to UPPL

The ruling BJP in Assam replaced 11 sitting MLAs with new faces in the list of 70 candidates to contest in the first two phases of polling on March 27 and April 1.

It has been decided that BJP would contest in 92 of 126 seats while 26 seats has been given to Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and eight to United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), its new ally in Bodoland region. The two allies are likely to announce their candidates on Saturday.

BJP general secretary, Arun Singh, while announcing the names in New Delhi told reporters that Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will contest from his Majuli constituency in eastern Assam, from where he was elected in 2016. BJP's strategist and senior minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma will contest from his Jalukbari constituency.

Barhampur constituency in central Assam, where former Chief Minister and senior AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta had won several times earlier, however, has been given to BJP this time. Mahanta is a six-time MLA. Jitu Goswami of BJP will fight the election from Barhampur.

It is not yet known whether AGP will give ticket to Mahanta for other constituency. Sources told DH that Mahanta is likely to be denied ticket this time mainly due to his anti-CAA stand.

The 11 sitting BJP MLAs, who have been replaced with new candidates are: Dilip Paul (Silchar), Amar Chand Jain (Katigorah), Joyram Engleng (Howraghat), Mansingh Rongpi (Baithalangso), Sum Ronghang (Diphu), Nabanita Handique (Sonari), Rituparna Baruah (Lahowal), Ashok Sarma (Nalbari), Debananda Hazarika (Bihpuria), Bir Bhadra Hagjer (Haflong) and Kishore Nath (Borkhola).

Polling for 47 seats will be conducted on March 27 and the same for 39 seats on April 1. The third and final phase on April 6 will witness polling for 40 seats.

President of BJP's Assam unit, Ranjeet Kumar Dass has been shifted from Sorbhog to neighbouring Patacharkuchi, where AGP candidate won in 2016. Patacharkuchi MLA, Kabindra Deka, who won in 2016, quit AGP and joined Assam Jatiya Parishad, a new party opposed to the CAA. Former senior Congress leader, Ajanta Neog, who joined BJP in December has been given ticket in her Golaghat constituency.

BJP has given ticket to four women candidates and three Muslim candiates.

Congress has stitched a grand alliance with six other parties including Badruddin Ajmal-led AlUDF, BJP's former ally Bodoland People's Front, three left parties and a new party. Two other new parties, Assam Jatiya Parishad and Akhil Gogoi-led Raijor Dal has also decided to fight the election jointly.