Guwahati: Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) announced candidates for 26 assembly seats, excluding Chabua-Lahowal, Dergaon, and Guwahati Central, where three sitting party MLAs were seeking nominations.Half of the candidates (13) in the AGP list are Muslims. AGP has also fielded Jakir Hussain Laskar from Algapur Katlichera and Karimuddin Barbhuyan from Sonai, both sitting MLAs suspended from AIUDF for “anti-party activities.”
Party president Atul Bora opposed any friendly contest with BJP and declared candidates only for seats allotted to AGP by BJP under their seat-sharing arrangement. Earlier, BJP turned down AGP workers’ appeal to give up Dergaon, Chabua-Lahowal, and Guwahati Central, and instead named its own candidates for all three constituencies.Chabua-Lahowal, previously known as Chabua, and Dergaon are currently represented by AGP MLAs Bhabendra Nath Bharali and Ponakan Baruah.
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According to the list, Atul Bora, who is also the agriculture minister, will contest from Bokakhat, the seat he currently holds in the assembly. Party working president and revenue minister Keshab Mahanta will contest from Koliabor, which he has represented for two consecutive terms.Former BJP leader Prakash Chandra Das, who joined AGP a few days ago, has been nominated from his home constituency, Hajo-Suwalkuchi. Youth leader Basanta Das, who switched from BJP to AGP on Thursday morning, has been given the Naoboicha ticket. Other candidates include Jibesh Rai from Bilasipara; Khalilur Rahman from Morigaon’s Lahorighat; and Sahabuddin Mazumdar, from Hojai.
