Assam polls: AIUDF to contest from 24 seats; BPF hangs in balance

GUWAHATI: Congress-led grand alliance partner All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) will contest from 24 seats in the Assam assembly elections to be held in three phases from March 27 to April 6.

The second largest party of the alliance will contest independently from 21 seats and will face friendly contests against alliance partners in three constituencies.

Besides, Anchalik Gana Morcha, an ally of the eight-party alliance, will field candidates in two seats. In the two seats, Lachit Bordoloi will contest from Batadrava in Nagaon district and Manjit Mahanta will contest from Dispur.

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The 21 seats where AIUDF will contests independently from Jamunamukh, Bilasipara (East), Bilasipara (West), Mankachar, Dhubri, Jania, Sarukhetri, Abhayapuri (South), Goalpara (West), Jalleswar, Gauripur, Dhing, Dalgaon, Naoboicha, Sonai, Karimganj (South), Badarpur, Algapur, Hailakandi, Katlichera and Bhabanipur.

Meanwhile, the grand alliance has offered one seat each to CPI in Morigaon and CPI M-L in (Bihali) and two seats to CPI (M) in Rangia and Sarbhog.

On the other hand the Bodoland People’s Front has been demanding 12 seats on which a decision was yet to taken, Congress sources said.

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Former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta-led Asom Gana Parishad (Pragatishil) (AGP-P) is also in touch with the Congress to join the alliance, Congress state president Ripun Bora confirmed. The AGP(P) eyes at least 10 seats to contest.

Further, the Jimosaya Deuri People’s Party has also joined the alliance and has been claiming having an upper hand in at least 17 seats.

A formal announcement of the seat sharing and candidates list is likely on Saturday, Bora said this afternoon.