Guwahati: The Indian National Congress on Sunday released its fifth and final list of candidates for the Assam Assembly elections, announcing seven more nominees and taking its total tally to 101 out of 126 seats.
In a statement, K. C. Venugopal, general secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), said the party’s Central Election Committee had approved the candidates for the ensuing elections.
The final list includes Joseph Hasda from Gossaigaon, Birkhang Boro from Dotma-ST, Rajat Kanti Saha from Bijni, Anchula Gwara Daimary from Bhergaon, Narayan Adhikari from Mazbat, Nirmal Langthasa from Haflong-ST and Amar Chand Jain from Katigorah.
With this, the Congress has completed its candidate selection, having earlier indicated that it would leave a portion of seats for its alliance partners, including the Raijor Dal. In its fourth list released on March 20, the party had announced seven candidates, dropped a sitting MLA and kept 11 seats aside for its ally.
The Congress is contesting the elections as part of a six-party alliance and had previously said it would allocate 15 seats to its partners.
The party, which has been out of power in Assam since 2016, is seeking to regain ground against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance, which is aiming for a third consecutive term.
In the outgoing Assembly, the BJP holds 64 seats, while its allies — the Asom Gana Parishad with nine seats, the United People’s Party Liberal with seven, and the Bodoland People’s Front with three, together command a comfortable majority.
On the opposition side, the Congress has 26 MLAs, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) 15 and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), one, along with an Independent legislator.
Polling for the 126-member Assembly is scheduled for April 9, with counting of votes on May 4.