Congress Releases First List of 42 Candidates for Assam Assembly Polls; Gaurav Gogoi to Contest from Jorhat

The Indian National Congress released its first list of 42 candidates for the 2026 Assam Assembly elections, with Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi contesting from Jorhat. The list includes a mix of experienced leaders, sitting MLAs, and new faces across Upper Assam, Lower Assam, and Barak Valley, including reserved constituencies. The announcement precedes expected polls in March-April and comes amid ongoing alliance talks and criticism from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who accused Congress of promoting dynastic politics. Meanwhile, Raijor Dal announced its first list of 11 candidates, highlighting unresolved seat-sharing agreements with Congress.