BJP announces 70 candidates for Assam assembly elections

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 5 

The ruling BJP on Friday announced 70 candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in its first list for Assam, dropping as many as 11 sitting MLAs. The party is expected to contest 92 seats out of total 126 seats. Allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) will contest 26 and eight seats, respectively. 

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will contest from Majuli and Jalukbari respectively, the constituencies they currently represent. Assam state BJP president Ranjeet Dass is contesting from Patacharkuchi constituency, a change from his Sarbhog seat, which he currently holds.

Sonowal, Sarma and leaders from the AGP were present at the press conference when General Secretary Arun Singh made the announcement of the list finalised at the BJP Central Election Committee meeting yesterday.  AGP president Atul Bora also announced the names of candidates of his party from the BJP dais. 

BJP’s list of 70 candidates includes 11 from ST, four from SC and two from the minority community. NDA is contesting as four-party coalition that includes BJP, AGP and UPPL, one party is contesting on the BJP symbol, said Sarma. All the leaders expressed confidence of the BJP-led alliance forming the next government in the state.