Assam polls: Congress' first list out, Gogoi to contest from Titabar

Guwahati/New Delhi, March 15 Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will contest from the Congress bastion of Titabar, according to the list of the first 65 candidates released by the party on Tuesday.

The party is fielding former union minister Paban Singh Ghatowar from Moran, while sitting member Rajib Lochan Pegu will take on BJP's chief ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal from Majuli, a reserved seat for tribals.

The first list includes over 15 new faces, while two sitting legislators were denied tickets. The list also includes 11 women candidates.

In the list released on Tuesday, the party is fielding Bithika Dev, wife of party veteran Santosh Mohan Dev, from Silchar.

The first and second phase of the Assam assembly elections will be held on April 4 and 11, respectively. Assam has a total of 126 assembly constituencies.

Sitting legislator from Margherita Pradyut Bordoloi will contest from the same place while Arun Phukan is being fielded from Bokakhat constituency.

Prominent in the list are Chief Minister Gogoi from Titabor, former minister Gautam Roy from Katlichera, ministers Girindra Mallik, Ajit Singh, Ajanta Neog, Bismita Gogoi, Speaker Pranab Kumar Gogoi, and Ghatowar.

Two sitting legislators -- Sarat Saikia (Mahmora constituency) and Amiya Gogoi (Duliajan) -- were denied tickets.

While Saikia has retained Mahmora for the last three terms, Amiya Gogoi had won the seat in 2011 by defeating BJP candidate Rameswar Teli.

Similarly, the party has given a ticket to Rahul Roy, instead of sitting legislator and his mother Mandira Roy in Aalgapur constituency in the Barak Valley.

The BJP earlier announced its list of 88 candidates, while regional political party Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) announced its candidates for 24 constituencies, and the AIUDF its list of 16 candidates.