41 candidates in first phase, 50 in second in Assam

A total 41 candidates are in the fray for the first phase and 50 contestants for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Assam slated for April 11 and 18 next, source in the election office said Friday.

Two nominations have been filed so far for the third phase poll in the state slated to be held on April 23, the sources said.

For phase one there are seven contestants each for Tezpur and Kaliabor constituencies, eight each for Jorhat and Dibrugarh followed by 11 for Lakhimpur seat, the office said.

Karimganj constituency which goes to the polls in the second phase has 14 nominations, Silchar 13, Autonomous District (ST) five, Mangaldoi 11 and Nowgong seven.

The two nominations for the third phase are those of sitting MP and All India United Democratic Front chief Badruddin Ajmal and Nurul Islam Choudhury of All India Trinamool Congress for Dhubri constituency in the third phase when Kokrajhar(ST), Barpeta and Gauhati will also go to the polls, the election office said.

The prominent contestants in the first phase are minister Pallab Lochan Das(BJP), retired IAS MGVK Bhanu (Cong) in Tezpur, sitting MP Gaurav Gogoi (Cong) and Monimadhab Mahanta(AGP) in Kaliabor, minister Tapan Gogoi (BJP) and Sushanta Borgohain (Cong) in Jorhat.

The others are sitting MP Rameswar Teli (BJP) and former union minister Paban Singh Ghatowar (Cong) in Dibrugarh, sitting MP Pradan Boruah (BJP) and Anil Borgohain (Cong) in Lakhimpur seat.

In phase two the noted nominees are sitting MLA Kripanath Mallah (BJP) and Swarup Das (Cong) for Karimganj, sittting MP Sushmita Dev (Cong) and sitting MLA Kripanath Mallah (BJP) in Silchar, former MP Biren Sing Ingti (Cong) and former chairman of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Horen Sing Bey (BJP) for Autonomous District (ST).

The other prominent candidates are sitting MP Bhubaneswar Kalita (BJP) and BJP general secretary Dilip Saikia in Mangaldoi, sitting MLA Rupak Sarma (BJP) and former minister Pradyut Bordoloi (Cong) for Nowgong.

An electorate of 75,16,284 - 38,27,811 males, 36,88,315 female and 158 third gender, are expected to exercise their franchise in 9574 polling stations of the five constituencies.

Assam has a total of 14 Lok Sabha seats.