In a major political development ahead of the Assam Assembly elections, the Congress party has announced its first list of 42 candidates, setting the tone for an intense electoral battle. The move has drawn attention across party lines, with several alliances reportedly caught off guard by the early declaration.
The list spans constituencies across Upper Assam, Lower Assam and the Barak Valley, covering both reserved and general seats. Senior leaders, former ministers and sitting MLAs have been accommodated in what the party calls a “balanced and strategic” first phase of nominations.
Gaurav Gogoi to Enter State Poll Battle
The biggest highlight of the announcement is the decision to field Gaurav Gogoi from the Jorhat Assembly constituency. Currently serving as Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and representing Jorhat in Parliament, Gogoi’s entry into the state election is being seen as a strong political message.
His candidature is expected to energize party workers in Upper Assam and could significantly impact the electoral narrative in the region.
Prominent Faces Across Regions
Apart from Gogoi, several experienced leaders feature in the list. In Upper Assam, former minister Pranati Phukan has been nominated from Naharkatia, while Debabrata Saikia will contest from Nazira. Indraneel Pegu has been fielded from Majuli (ST), and Pallabi Saikia Gogoi from Teok.
In Lower Assam and central districts, Mira Borthakur Goswami will contest from Dispur, while Diganta Barman has been retained in Barkhetri. Former BJP MLA Ashok Kumar Sarma has been given the ticket from Nalbari.
From the Barak Valley region, candidates include Abhijit Paul from Silchar, Aminul Haque Laskar from Sonai, and Suruchi Roy from Ram Krishna Nagar (SC), among others.
Focus on Reserved and Key Constituencies
The party has carefully distributed nominations across SC and ST reserved constituencies, aiming to consolidate its traditional voter base. Several former MLAs and fresh faces have been combined in what party insiders describe as a “calculated mix of experience and youth.”
Priyanka Gandhi’s Role in Selection
Earlier this year, the Congress leadership appointed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as chairperson of the party’s screening committee for Assam. This was her first major organisational responsibility after serving as AICC general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh.
Her involvement in finalising candidates is being viewed as a strategic move to strengthen the party’s campaign structure in the northeastern state.
With the first list now public, political observers say the battle lines for Assam are clearly drawn. The coming weeks are expected to witness aggressive campaigning as parties gear up for a high-stakes electoral contest.
