In preparation for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, also the convenor of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), revealed the seat distribution strategy on Thursday. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest 11 out of the 14 seats in the state, leaving three for its allies, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL).
During a press conference at the party headquarters, Sarma announced that the AGP will contest from Barpeta and Dhubri, while the UPPL will field its candidate in Kokrajhar. Emphasizing mutual support among allies, Sarma stated that they will back each other’s candidates across all 14 constituencies in Assam.
Sarma disclosed that the seat-sharing decision came after a meeting between BJP state chief Bhabesh Kalita, himself, and the national leadership including J P Nadda, Amit Shah, and B L Santosh. He clarified that while UPPL requested the Kokrajhar seat, the AGP agreed to contest two seats as per the central leadership’s directive.
Out of the 14 seats, Sarma expressed confidence in winning 11, pledging a fierce battle for the remaining three. Currently, BJP holds nine seats in the outgoing Lok Sabha from Assam, while the AGP and UPPL lack representation.
Sarma emphasized the democratic process within the BJP, stating that the party’s parliamentary board will finalize the list of candidates through open discussion. He noted that some sitting MPs have expressed a desire not to contest, signaling the possibility of new faces in the candidate lineup.
