Assam 2026 Polls: BJP Confirms Himanta Sarma, Pradyut Bordoloi Candidacies

The political landscape of Assam is buzzing with activity as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released its first list of 88 candidates for the highly anticipated Assam Assembly Elections 2026. The Election Commission of India formally announced the schedule for the polls on March 15, 2026, with voting slated for a single phase on April 9, 2026, and the counting of votes to take place on May 4, 2026. A key highlight of the BJP's initial candidate list is the confirmation that current Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will once again contest from the Jalukbari constituency. Sarma has a long-standing association with Jalukbari, having represented the seat for five consecutive terms, initially with the Indian National Congress and subsequently with the BJP since 2016. His consistent victories from this seat underscore its significance as a strong political bastion and his enduring popularity in the region. The continuity of his candidacy from Jalukbari reinforces the BJP's strategy to leverage its established strongholds and prominent leadership in the upcoming elections. In a significant development that has sent ripples through the state's political circles, former Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Pradyut Bordoloi has officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and is slated to contest the 2026 Assembly elections from the Dispur constituency. Bordoloi's switch from the Indian National Congress, where he had a long-standing association, occurred just days before the candidate announcements. He resigned from the Congress on March 17, 2026, and was formally inducted into the BJP on March 18, 2026, meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah alongside Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Chief Minister Sarma publicly extended an invitation to Bordoloi to join the BJP, promising him an opportunity to contest the Assembly elections, a promise that has now materialised with his candidature from Dispur. This move is considered a substantial boost for the BJP and a considerable setback for the Congress, particularly given Bordoloi's stature as a senior leader and two-time MP from the Nagaon constituency. Dispur is regarded as a politically significant constituency, and Bordoloi's entry is expected to intensify the electoral contest there. The repercussions of Bordoloi's defection have also affected his family's political trajectory. His son, Prateek Bordoloi, who was initially a Congress candidate from the Margherita constituency, announced his decision to withdraw his candidacy. Prateek stated that it would not be appropriate for him to continue as a Congress candidate following his father's decision to join another party, though he affirmed his commitment to continue working for the Congress in other capacities. The related articles provided for context, including those from News18, India TV News, and ThePrint, also report on these current developments for the 2026 Assam Assembly Elections, corroborating the central claims. The consensus across multiple credible news outlets confirms the accuracy and timely relevance of the NDTV article. The upcoming elections will determine the composition of the 126-member Assam Legislative Assembly, with a majority mark of 64 seats, and are expected to witness a robust contest between the ruling BJP-led alliance and the opposition, primarily the Indian National Congress. The early announcement of prominent candidacies, especially the defection of a seasoned leader like Pradyut Bordoloi, indicates the intensity with which political parties are approaching the 2026 electoral battle.

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