The Assam unit of the BJP has finalized its candidate shortlist for by-elections in three assembly seats, while collaborating with coalition partners for others.
GUWAHATI: The Assam branch of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is gearing up for the upcoming by-elections, having recently identified potential candidates for three assembly constituencies. State president Bhabesh Kalita confirmed the development on Monday.
The decision was made during a meeting of the state BJP’s election committee, which included key figures such as Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, party in-charge Harish Dwivedi, and state organizational general secretary GR Ravindra Raju. The committee convened in Guwahati over the weekend to discuss strategies for the upcoming polls.
“We held thorough discussions regarding the by-elections and have shortlisted three candidates from each of the Behali, Dhalai, and Samaguri seats. These names have been forwarded to the party’s parliamentary board, which will make the final decision on who will receive the party tickets,” Kalita stated. He also mentioned that the parliamentary board is expected to announce the candidates within the next few days.
Interestingly, the BJP will not contest the Sidli and Bongaigaon seats, opting instead to support its coalition partners, the United Peoples Party Liberal (UPPL) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), in these areas. Kalita highlighted that both seats were previously secured by these allies in the last assembly elections. “In 2021, the UPPL won Sidli, while AGP claimed Bongaigaon. Our alliance remains strong, and we will continue to support our partners in these constituencies,” he added.
Five assembly seats in Assam became vacant this year due to the Lok Sabha elections, resulting in two BJP MLAs, including a cabinet minister, along with one MLA each from the AGP and UPPL, and one from the Congress, winning parliamentary seats.
The BJP’s Parimal Suklabaidya and Ranjit Dutta won the Cachar and Tezpur Lok Sabha seats, respectively, while veteran AGP leader Phani Bhushan Choudhury has held the Bongaigaon assembly seat since 1985 and recently won the Barpeta Lok Sabha seat. Meanwhile, UPPL’s Joyanta Basumatary won in Kokrajhar.
As the political landscape evolves in Assam, all eyes are on the BJP’s candidate selections and the upcoming by-elections, which could impact the ruling coalition’s dynamics in the state.
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