Guwahati, Mar 20: The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), a key partner of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Assam, on Friday released its first list of 26 candidates for the upcoming Assam Assembly Elections scheduled for April 9.
Party president and Cabinet Minister Atul Bora will contest from the Bokakhat constituency, while Executive President Keshab Mahanta has been fielded from Kaliabor.
AGP, which currently holds nine seats in the 126-member assembly, will contest 26 seats. Its allies Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with 89 seats and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) with 11 complete the NDA’s seat-sharing arrangement.
In a related development, Union Minister of State Pabitra Margherita described BJP’s first candidate list as a “true reflection” of Assam’s social diversity. Speaking to ANI, he said the selections included representatives from various tribes, sub-tribes, women, youth, and grassroots workers. “More than ten youth leaders have been picked, earning appreciation from 6.5 million BJP Assam members and the public,” he added.
Assam BJP Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, renominated from Nalbari, expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and state president Dilip Saikia. “I will work to develop Nalbari further and trust the people’s support,” he told ANI.
The upcoming polls will see the BJP-led NDA, seeking a third term under Chief Minister Sarma, facing off against a resurgent Congress aiming to reclaim power.
