The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday released its first list of 88 candidates for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, fielding Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma from the Jalukbari constituency.
The list was finalised at a meeting of the party’s Central Election Committee held on Wednesday evening, chaired by party president Nitin Nabin. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other senior leaders. Assam BJP chief Dilip Saikia was also present.
Among the prominent names in the list is Pradyut Bordoloi, former Congress leader and sitting MP from Nagaon, who joined the BJP on Wednesday. He has been nominated from the Dispur Assembly seat.
Bordoloi resigned from the Congress a day before joining the BJP, citing dissatisfaction within the party. Reflecting on his decision, he said, “I had joined Congress when I was 16 years old, and the party has played a significant role in shaping my life and has given me a lot. But in recent years, I was feeling insulted, sidelined and suffocated in the party.”
He added that switching parties was a difficult choice. “I have joined the BJP to do something better for the people of Assam. I feel I will be able to offer my services to the party and help make Assam one of the best states in the country. I look forward to working for the welfare of all communities in Assam together with my new colleagues,” he said.
Reacting to Bordoloi’s exit, Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi described the move as unfortunate but personal. “We view his decision as unfortunate. The Congress gave him a ticket in the last Lok Sabha election. In the current Assembly election, the party also gave a ticket to a member of his family. Yet he remains upset for personal reasons,” Gogoi said.
On the question of Bordoloi’s son, Prateek Bordoloi, who has been fielded by the Congress, Gogoi said, “I have sympathy and moral support for Prateek Bordoloi. Whatever decision he wishes to take, I will speak on behalf of the party.”
The BJP’s first list also includes several other candidates who have recently joined the party from the Congress. Bhupen Kumar Borah has been fielded from the Bihpura constituency. Among other candidates, Madhavi Das will contest from Birsing-Jarua, Jyotsana Kalita from Chamaria, and Nilima Devi from Mangaldai.
Assam will go to the polls in a single phase on 9 April to elect representatives to its 126-member Assembly. The counting of votes is scheduled for 4 May.
