The Assam Congress election campaign intensified on Tuesday as the party released its inaugural list of 42 candidates for the upcoming Assam Assembly Elections 2026 | Assam Polls. In a strategic move, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president and MP Gaurav Gogoi will make his legislative debut from the Jorhat constituency, while Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia will seek re-election from Nazira .
The announcement, cleared by the party’s Central Election Committee and issued by AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, sets the stage for a high-stakes electoral battle in the northeastern state. With the Assam Assembly Elections | Assam Polls 2026 expected to be a fierce contest between the Congress and the ruling BJP, this candidate list reveals the opposition’s strategy to consolidate its position across the Upper Assam, Lower Assam, and Barak Valley regions .
Here is a detailed breakdown of the Congress first list candidates, the key constituencies to watch, and the political dynamics at play.
Gaurav Gogoi in Jorhat: A Signal of Leadership
The most significant announcement in the Assam Congress candidates list is the fielding of Gaurav Gogoi from the Jorhat Assembly constituency. The sitting Lok Sabha MP from Kaliabor and son of former Chief Minister late Tarun Gogoi, his entry into state politics has been highly anticipated.
Political Significance: By fielding its state president from Jorhat—a prominent Upper Assam seat with a significant indigenous population—the Congress aims to counter the BJP’s narrative and project Gogoi as a potential chief ministerial face . Sources within the party suggest that Gogoi’s candidature is intended to infuse enthusiasm among workers and position a young leader at the forefront of the campaign against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma .
Assam Polls : Congress First List
Besides the top leadership, the Congress first list for Assam includes several heavyweight leaders and strategic picks across the 126-member assembly. Here are the key names confirmed for the Assam Assembly Elections 2026 | Assam Polls :
- Debabrata Saikia (Nazira): The Leader of Opposition in Assam and a senior strategist, Saikia will defend his stronghold in Nazira. His experience will be crucial for the party’s legislative performance .
- Ripun Bora (Barchalla): A former APCC president and ex-Rajya Sabha MP, Bora’s candidature adds significant weight to the party’s lineup in the Barchalla constituency .
- Mira Borthakur Goswami (Dispur): In the heart of the state capital, Congress has nominated Goswami for the Dispur Assembly seat. Having previously contested from the Guwahati/Dispur area, she will likely face a high-profile BJP challenger in this prestigious constituency .
- Narayan Bhuyan (Bihpuria): The Bihpuria Assembly constituency is set for a potential keen contest. Congress has named Bhuyan as its candidate, positioning him as a direct challenger to former APCC chief Bhupen Bora, who recently switched to the BJP .
Full List of 42 Congress Candidates
The comprehensive list covers seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), ensuring representation across the state. Key nominees include:
| Constituency | Candidate Name | Category/Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Jorhat | Gaurav Gogoi | APCC President, MP |
| Nazira | Debabrata Saigogoi | LoP, Assam |
| Dispur (33) | Mira Borthakur Goswami | Guwahati Region |
| Barchalla | Ripun Bora | Ex-APCC President |
| Bihpuria | Narayan Bhuyan | High-stakes contest |
| Gauripur | Abdus Sobahan Ali Sarkar | |
| Goalpara West (ST) | Markline Marak | |
| Bongaigaon | Girish Baruah | |
| Barpeta (SC) | Mahananda Sarkar | |
| Boko-Chaygaon (ST) | Ramen Singh Rabha | |
| Hajo-Sualkuchi (SC) | Nandita Das | |
| Kamalpur | Satyabrat Kalita | |
| Barkhetri | Diganta Barman | |
| Nalbari | Ashok Kumar Sarma | |
| Tihu | Ratul Patuwary | |
| Sipajhar | Binanda Kumar Saikia | |
| Jagiroad (SC) | Bubul Das | |
| Rupohihat | Nurul Huda | |
| Samaguri | Tanzil Hussain | |
| Raha (SC) | Utpal Bania | |
| Lumding | Swapan Kar | |
| Jonai (ST) | Raj Kumar Medak | |
| Doomdooma | Durga Bhumij | |
| Margherita | Prateek Bordoloi | |
| Chabua-Lahowal | Pranjal Ghatowar | |
| Duliajan | Dhruba Gogoi | |
| Naharkatia | Pranati Phukan | |
| Sonari | Utpal Gogoi | |
| Demow | Ajoy Kumar Gogoi | |
| Majuli (ST) | Indraneel Pegu | |
| Teok | Pallabi Saikia Gogoi | |
| Golaghat | Bitupan Saikia | |
| Bokajan (ST) | Raton Engti | |
| Rongkhang (ST) | Augustine Enghee | |
| Lakhipur | M. Santi Kumar Singha | |
| Udharbond | Ajit Singh | |
| Barkhola | Dr. Amit Kumar Kalwar | |
| Silchar | Abhijit Paul | |
| Sonai | Aminul Haque Lasker | |
| Karimganj North | Jakaria Ahmed | |
| Patharkandi | Kartik Sena Sinha | |
| Ramkrishna Nagar (SC) | Suruchi Roy |
Alliance Troubles: Congress-Raijor Dal Seat-Sharing Deadlock
While the party has finalized its nominees for 42 seats, the announcement comes amid reported strain in alliance talks with the Raijor Dal, led by Akhil Gogoi. The Congress-Raijor Dal alliance is crucial for a united opposition to take on the BJP, but negotiations have hit a roadblock .
Current Status: The seat-sharing deadlock reportedly hinges on a single constituency. Raijor Dal has expressed dissatisfaction with Congress’s offer of only four seats, demanding a more equitable distribution. Raijor Dal Working President Bhasco de Saikia stated that the party is willing to accept a 13-seat framework if given one more constituency of their choice .
Congress’s Stand: APCC chief Gaurav Gogoi has maintained that talks are ongoing and there are probabilities for an alliance. However, the party is also reportedly close to finalizing arrangements with the Assam Jatiya Parishad and the Left, indicating that the Congress is preparing for multiple electoral scenarios .
High-Stakes Battles to Watch
With the first list released, several constituencies are already shaping up to be high-profile contests:
- Jorhat: Gaurav Gogoi vs. a likely heavyweight from the BJP.
- Bihpuria: The potential direct fight between Congress’s Narayan Bhuyan and BJP’s Bhupen Bora (if fielded) will be a prestige battle, given Bora’s recent switch from Congress .
- Dispur: As the seat of power, this will be a marquee contest where the BJP is expected to pull out all stops to retain the constituency .
- Nazira: Debabrata Saikia will aim to retain his seat amid allegations of electoral roll discrepancies he recently raised with the Election Commission .
What’s Next?
The Congress party is expected to release further lists in the coming days to cover the remaining 84 constituencies. The final composition of the opposition alliance—whether with Raijor Dal or other regional parties—will be critical in determining the shape of the direct contest with the BJP-led NDA in the Assam Assembly Elections 2026 | Assam Polls.
As the Election Commission is expected to announce the poll schedule shortly, the political temperature in Assam is set to rise significantly.
