Guwahati, March 27: Only eight per cent of the total candidates contesting the upcoming Assam Assembly elections are women, according to an official release from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer on Friday. Out of the 722 candidates finalized for the April 9 polls, 663 are male and 59 are female, with no nominees representing the third gender category. This low representation of women remains a talking point even as political activity reaches its peak across the state’s 126 constituencies.

The finalized list reveals a crowded field, with 258 Independent candidates accounting for a significant portion of the total contenders. The Algapur-Katlicherra and Karimganj South constituencies have emerged as the most contested seats, each featuring 15 candidates. In contrast, nine constituencies—including Rangia, Jagiroad, Hojai, and Jonai—will witness direct head-to-head contests between just two candidates.

On the organizational front, the ruling NDA has distributed its strength with the BJP fielding 90 candidates, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) 26, and the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) 11. The opposition camp sees the Congress contesting in 99 seats, supported by allies such as Raijor Dal in 13 and the Assam Jatiya Parishad in 10. Other significant players include the AIUDF with 30 nominees and the United People’s Party, Liberal (UPPL) with 18. Smaller parties and national entities like the Trinamool Congress and Aam Aadmi Party are also in the fray with 22 and 18 candidates respectively.

The upcoming election is the first since the 2023 delimitation exercise, adding a layer of unpredictability to the April 9 vote. Currently, the ruling BJP holds 64 seats in the outgoing House, while the primary opposition, Congress, holds 26. As the state moves toward the May 4 counting day, the stark gender imbalance in the candidate list highlights a persistent challenge in the region’s political representation despite the high-stakes battle for power.