Guwahati: Several Congress and alliance candidates filed their nomination papers on Friday for the April 9 assembly elections, marking a show of strength across key constituencies.Leader of the opposition Debabrata Saikia submitted his nomination as Congress candidate from Nazira, accompanied by Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi, who filed his papers from Sivasagar. Gogoi, a sitting MLA, had won the seat in the last polls while still in prison on sedition charges linked to the CAA protests.At the Dibrugarh deputy commissioner’s office, Assam Jatiya Parishad president Lurinjyoti Gogoi filed his nomination from Khowang, while other Congress candidates including Bipul Gogoi (Tingkhong), Pranati Phukan (Naharkatia), Dhruvajyoti Gogoi (Duliajan), Pranjal Ghatowar (Chabua-Lahowal) and joint opposition candidate Mainak Patra (Dibrugarh Sadar) also submitted their papers. They were joined by APCC president Gaurav Gogoi, who led supporters in a show of unity.Former MP Ripun Bora filed his nomination from Barchala in Sonitpur district.Speaking to the media Debabrata Saikia dismissed speculation about switching sides, saying: “As long as there is a difference in ideology between Congress and BJP, the question of joining BJP does not arise. I believe in the Constitution.”Gaurav Gogoi, present during the filings in Sivasagar and Dibrugarh, appealed to voters to back the alliance candidates to defeat what he termed the “corrupt leadership of Himanta Biswa Sarma and the communal BJP.” He said, “We will win all three constituencies in Sivasagar. BJP will be reduced to zero here.”Preparations are underway for further filings on March 23, with around 30 Congress candidates collecting their ‘A’ and ‘B’ forms from Rajiv Bhawan in Guwahati on Friday. Among them were Sunil Chetri (Naduar), Ashok Sharma (Nalbari) and Jayanta Khand (Ranganadi).Congress candidates Mira Borthakur (Dispur) and Shantanu Bora (New Guwahati) will file their nominations on Monday, with Bora leading a procession from Rajiv Bhawan and Borthakur from Manvendra Sharma Complex in Dispur.
