Assam elections: In jolt to BJP, ex-minister is Congress candidate

Guwahati: In a jolt to the BJP in Assam, cabinet minister Nandita Garlosa filed her nomination as a Congress candidate from Haflong on Monday.

Garlosa joined the Congress on Sunday despite efforts by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to dissuade her. The BJP has fielded Rupali Langthasa from the seat.

Meanwhile, amid uncertainty over AGP leader Pradip Hazarika in Sibsagar, the BJP has fielded Kushal Dowari. A former militant, Dowari won Thowra as an Independent in 2016. The seat is held by Raijor Dal's Akhil Gogoi, a Congress ally who contested the 2021 polls from jail after his 2019 arrest during anti-CAA protests.


Sarma said the BJP fielded a candidate in Sibsagar after discussions with the AGP, calling it a "friendly contest". Pradip Hazarika, MLA from Amguri, saw his seat scrapped in the 2023 delimitation.Former senior BJP leader Jayanta Das, disgruntled on being denied a ticket, on Monday filed his nomination as an independent candidate from the Dispur constituency. BJP has fielded former minister and ex-Congress leader Pradyut Bordoloi from the seat.