Assam Assembly elections: Congress announces first list of 42 candidates; Gaurav Gogoi field in Jorhat

New Delhi: The Congress party on Tuesday announced its first list of 42 candidates for the upcoming Assam assembly elections, even before the polling schedule has been officially announced, marking an early start to the party’s campaign in the northeastern state.assam According to the list released by AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, Congress president and Lok Sabha member Gaurav Gogoi has been fielded from the high-profile Jorhat seat by the party, while Assam Congress Legislature Party leader Debabrata Saikia will contest from Nazira.Former state Congress committee president Ripun Bora will contest from Bachala as the party aims to regain ground lost since its fall from power in Assam in 2016.Other notable candidates include Abdus Sobahan Ali Sarkar from Gauripur, Markline Marak from Goalpara West (ST) and Girish Baruah from Bongaigaon. Mahananda Sarkar has been introduced from Barpeta (SC).Seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes figure prominently. Ramen Singh Rabha will play against Boko-Chaygaon (ST), Nandita Das will play against Hajo-Sualkuchi (SC) and Satyabrat Kalita from Kamalpur.In urban and strategic constituencies, Mira Borthakur Goswami will contest from Dispur, Diganta Barman from Barkhetri and Ashok Kumar Sarma from Nalbari.The 126-member Assam Assembly is expected to go to polls in April.(Inputs from PTI)