AAP releases first list of 14 candidates for Assam assembly elections

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has released its first list of 14 candidates for the upcoming assembly elections in Assam, marking the party’s early preparations for the high-stakes state polls. The announcement comes ahead of the official declaration of election dates by the Election Commission of India.

According to the list, candidates have been fielded in several constituencies across the state, including Naoboicha, Dergaon and Gohpur. The move signals the party’s attempt to strengthen its political presence in the northeastern region and expand its national footprint beyond its traditional strongholds.

The election schedule for Assam, along with West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry, is expected to be announced later in the day. Ahead of the polls, authorities have already completed the revision of voters’ lists in these states and the union territory, with the final electoral rolls now published.

In Assam, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is seeking a third consecutive term in power. The party has intensified its outreach campaign in the state through programmes such as the Jan Ashirwad Yatra aimed at connecting with voters ahead of the elections.

The Indian National Congress has also begun announcing its candidates and recently released its second list for the Assam assembly polls. With this, the party has named candidates for 65 of the 126 seats in the state assembly while leaving several constituencies for alliance partners.

In the 2021 assembly elections, the National Democratic Alliance comprising the BJP, the Asom Gana Parishad and the United People’s Party Liberal secured a majority with 75 seats, with the BJP emerging as the largest partner in the alliance. The upcoming polls are expected to witness a competitive contest as parties intensify preparations across the state.