Four of five recent defectors from Congress, including an MP and three MLAs, have found their way into the Bharatiya Janata Party’s list of 88 candidates for the April 9 Assembly election in Assam.
Missing from the first list, released by the BJP’s central office in New Delhi on Thursday (March 19, 2026), are 19 MLAs, including Deputy Assembly Speaker Numal Momin (Bokajan constituency), Minister Nandita Garlosa (Haflong), and Phanidhar Talukdar, who defected after winning the 2021 polls from Bhabanipur on an All India United Democratic Front ticket.
The BJP rewarded Nagaon MP Pradyut Bordoloi, who quit Congress two days ago, with a nomination from the Dispur seat, currently held by its five-time MLA Atul Bora. The party also named former State Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah from the Bihpura constituency.
Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, who won the 2021 polls from Barak Valley’s Karimganj North, is the BJP’s candidate from Katigorah, while his counterpart Sashi Kanta Das has been fielded from Raha seat. The latter won this seat for Congress in 2021.
Basanta Das, the third Congress MLA (Mangaldoi), who joined the BJP with them, has been left out.
Two more MLAs, who won the 2021 elections on Congress tickets, are in the list of candidates. They are Sushanta Borgohain and Rupjyoti Kurmi. While Mr. Borgohain, who won from Thowrah in 2021, is contesting Demow seat, Mr. Kurmi is seeking re-election from Mariani. Both seats are in eastern Assam.
Eyeing sixth term
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is the BJP’s candidate from Jalukbari, one of four constituencies in Kamrup Metropolitan district, much of which is covered by Guwahati. A notable omission in one of the other three seats — New Guwahati — is former State BJP president Siddhartha Bhattacharya, who played a key role in bringing Mr. Sarma to the BJP from Congress in 2015.
Many in the BJP, unhappy with the denial of a ticket to Mr. Bhattacharya, said this was expected as the current party leadership has been phasing out the “old brigade”.
Mr. Bora, among the older set of leaders, said the list was shocking when “everyone knew I will get a ticket”. He had earlier said that the “birds, trees, jungles, tigers, bears, dogs, cats, cows, and goats” in Dispur were confident about his re-nomination.
Of the 88 candidates, six are women. Barring Minister Ajanta Neog (Golaghat seat), also a Congress import, the women candidates are new faces. They are Madhavi Das (Birsing-Jarua), Jyotsna Kalita (Chamaria), Nilima Devi (Mangaldai), Niso Terangpi (Diphu), and Rupali Langthasa (Haflong).
The BJP Ministers seeking re-election are Ranjeet Kumar Dass from Bhowanipur-Sorbhog, Chandra Mohan Patowary from Tihu, Ranoj Pegu from Dhemaji, Ashok Singhal from Dhekiajuli, Pijush Hazarika from Jagiroad, Bimal Bora from Tingkhong, Jayanta Malla Baruah from Nalbari, Prasanta Phukan from Dibrugarh, Kaushik Rai from Lakhipur, Krishnendu Paul from Patharkandi, and Rupesh Gowala from Doomdooma.
Earlier, the Chief Minister said BJP allies Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People’s Front will contest 26 and 11 seats, respectively. The two parties have not yet declared their candidates. There is no clarity about one seat.
Published – March 19, 2026 12:45 pm IST