Defectors from Congress in BJP’s first list of 88 candidates for Assam election

BJP announces first list of 88 Assam poll candidates, including CM Himanta Biswa Sarma from Jalukbari and recent Congress joiners

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.