Guwahati, March 3 — The Assam Congress on Tuesday released its first list of 42 candidates for the 2026 Assam Assembly elections, naming APCC president Gaurav Gogoi from Jorhat and Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia from Nazira among its key picks. The list was cleared by the party’s Central Election Committee and issued by AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal.
Gaurav Gogoi’s nomination from Jorhat signals the party’s intent to project him as the face of its campaign in Assam; as APCC chief he is expected to lead the Congress’s statewide outreach in what the party describes as a high-stakes contest. Debabrata Saikia, the Congress’s principal voice in the Assembly, will seek re-election from Nazira.
Senior leader Ripun Bora has been fielded from Barchalla. A former APCC president and ex-Rajya Sabha member, Bora’s inclusion is meant to strengthen the party’s prospects in that constituency. In the capital-seat Dispur (33), the Congress has nominated Mira Borthakur Goswami, who has previously contested from the Guwahati/Dispur area.
The first list also sets up a potentially keen fight in Bihpuria, where the Congress has named Narayan Bhuyan as its candidate. The seat may become a high-profile battleground if the BJP fields former APCC chief Bhupen Bora, who recently switched to the saffron party, positioning Bhuyan as the Congress challenger in Upper Assam.
The announcement comes amid reported strain in seat-sharing negotiations between Congress and its potential ally Raijor Dal. Sources say the talks hinge on a single constituency, with both parties holding their ground while reiterating their commitment to reach an understanding.
Further lists of nominees are expected in the coming days as the Congress finalises candidates for the remaining constituencies in the 126-member Assam Assembly.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/assam-polls-congress-first-list-names-42-gogoi-from-jorhat-saikia-from-nazira-1609040
Category: Assam,Featured
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Publish Date: 2026-03-03 21:25:00
