In a calculated escalation for the 2026 Assam Assembly elections, Congress has dropped its opening salvo: a 42-candidate list headlined by Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi, who will contest the assembly poll from his home turf.
The 2021 verdict left Congress with 29 of 126 seats, spurring a revamped strategy. This roster meticulously balances Brahmaputra and Barak Valleys, northern and eastern districts, SC/ST reservations, and gender diversity, signaling a broad-based offensive.
Spotlight on nominees: Gauripur’s Abdus Sobahan Ali Sarkar, Golpara West (ST)’s Markline Marak, Bongaigaon’s Girish Barua, Barpeta (SC)’s Mahananda Sarkar, Boko-Chaygaon (ST)’s Ramen Singh Rabha, Hajo-Sualkuchi (SC)’s Nandita Das, and Kamalpur’s Satyabrata Kalita.
Barkhetri goes to Diganta Burman, Nalbari to Ashok Kumar Sarma, Tihu to Ratul Patuwari, Sipajhar to Binanda Kumar Saikia, Jagiroad (SC) to Bubul Das, Rupahihat to Nurul Huda, Samaguri to Tanjil Hussain, Raha (SC) to Upal Bania, and Lumding to Swapan Kar.
Ripun Bora fields for Barchala, Narayan Bhuyan for Bhihpuria, Raj Kumar Medok for Jonai (ST), Durga Bhumij for Doomdooma, Pratik Bordoloi for Margherita, Pranjal Ghatowar for Chabua-Lahowal, Dhruv Gogoi for Duliajan, and Pranati Phukan for Naharkatia.
Sonari’s Utpal Gogoi, Demow’s Ajay Kumar Gogoi, Nazira’s Debabrata Saikia, Majuli (ST)’s Indraneel Pegoo, Titabor’s Pallavi Saikia Gogoi, Jorhat’s Gaurav Gogoi, Golaghat’s Bitupan Saikia, and Bokajjan (ST)’s Ratan Angti complete major picks.
Southern seats feature M. Shanti Kumar Singha (Lakhipur), Ajit Singh (Udharbond), Dr. Amit Kumar Kalwar (Barkhola), Abhijit Paul (Silchar), Aminul Haque Laskar (Sonai), Zakaria Ahmed (Karimganj North), Kartik Sen Sinha (Patharkandi), and Suruchi Roy (Ramkrishna Nagar SC). More announcements loom, addressing floods, unemployment, tea labor issues, and borders with a mix of new blood and stalwarts.