Sarbananda Sonowal to Take on Dibrugarh Seat in Assam Lok Sabha Polls

Union Minister and BJPs Rajya Sabha member Sarbananda Sonowal has been named as the partys candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from Dibrugarh seat in Assam, replacing incumbent party MP and Union Minister Rameswar Teli.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, including 11 candidates from Assam. The announcement comes after the Election Commission of India (ECI) carried out the delimitation exercise in the state, which was criticized by opposition parties for allegedly favoring the ruling BJP.

Sarbananda Sonowal to Contest from Dibrugarh

Union Minister and Rajya Sabha member Sarbananda Sonowal will contest the Lok Sabha polls from the Dibrugarh seat in Assam, replacing incumbent party MP and Union Minister Rameswar Teli. Sonowal, considered a trusted ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him and exuded confidence in the BJP's victory.

New Faces and Rajya Sabha Members in the Fray

Apart from Sonowal, the BJP has named 10 other candidates, including one woman, to contest the general elections from Assam. Of the 11 BJP nominees, only four are existing Lok Sabha members who have got tickets this time, while two others from Rajya Sabha will try their luck. The remaining five, including a state minister and an MLA, will contest the general elections for the first time.

Key Candidates and Their Backgrounds

Among the notable candidates, Bijuli Kalita Medhi, the vice president of Assam BJP, will replace incumbent party MP Queen Oja in the Guwahati constituency. Suresh Bora, a former Congress leader who recently joined the BJP, will contest from the Nagaon seat, currently held by senior Congress leader Pradyut Bordoloi.

Assam Excise, Transport, and Fisheries Minister Parimal Suklabaidya will make his Lok Sabha debut from the Silchar seat, replacing Rajdeep Roy. Former Assam minister and current MLA Ranjit Dutta will contest from the Sonitpur seat, while Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council's Executive Member Amarsing Tisso will represent the Diphu ST constituency.

Retained Candidates and Delimitation Impact

The BJP has also renominated MPs Dilip Saikia from Darrang (previously Mangaldoi), Topon Kumar Gogoi from Jorhat, and Pradan Baruah from Lakhimpur. Incumbent MP Kripanath Mallah will seek re-election from the Karimganj constituency, which has become a general category seat from an SC one after the delimitation exercise.

The BJP's announcement of candidates for Assam in the Lok Sabha polls sets the stage for intense electoral competition in the state. With a mix of experienced leaders, new faces, and Rajya Sabha members joining the fray, the party aims to retain its dominance in Assam and contribute to the formation of a third-term government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.