BJP Announces 88 Candidates for Assam Assembly Elections

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has unveiled a list of 88 candidates for the Assam Assembly elections scheduled for April 9, 2026. The announcement was made by the party's central office in New Delhi on March 19, 2026, and it includes a notable presence of candidates who have recently defected from the Indian National Congress.

Among the candidates is Nagaon Member of Parliament Pradyut Bordoloi, who joined the BJP just days prior to the announcement. He has been nominated to contest from the Dispur constituency, which is currently represented by Atul Bora, a five-time MLA from the BJP. The party's list also includes former Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah, who will contest the Bihpura constituency.

Three other Congress MLAs, Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha, Sashi Kanta Das, and Basanta Das, have also switched allegiance to the BJP. While Purkayastha, who won from Karimganj North, will contest from Katigorah, Das's previous winning seat in Raha has been assigned to another candidate. Basanta Das, however, has not been nominated in the current list.

Additionally, BJP continues to field strong candidates, including Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma from Jalukbari. Notably absent from the candidate announcement is former state BJP president Siddhartha Bhattacharya, which has raised concerns among some party members regarding the shift in leadership focus away from established figures.

The list includes six women candidates, most of whom are new entrants with the exception of Minister Ajanta Neog. The new nominees also include Madhavi Das, Jyotsna Kalita, Nilima Devi, Niso Terangpi, and Rupali Langthasa.

The BJP government has partnered with regional parties Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People's Front for this election, with each expected to contest 26 and 11 seats, respectively, though their candidates have yet to be announced. The elections represent a crucial moment for both the BJP and its opposition as they navigate the changing political landscape in Assam amid shifting allegiances and candidate strategies.

The election campaign is set to intensify as the date draws near, with all candidate parties preparing to rally support among voters across Assam's various constituencies.