A total of 269 candidates are in the fray in 47 assembly constituencies in the first phase of Assam Assembly Elections scheduled on March 27.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) in a statement said out of a total of 295 candidates who filed their nomination papers, 10 nominations have been rejected and 16 other candidates have withdrawn their nominations.
There are altogether 23 female candidates whose nominations have been accepted.
Several heavyweight candidates are in the fray in the first phase of polls.
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Ripun Bora, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president Atul Bora, working president Keshab Mahanta, newly-formed Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) president Lurinjyoti Gogoi, Assam’s peasant leader and president of Raijor Dal Akhil Gogoi, ministers Ranjit Dutta, Naba Doley, Jogen Mahan and Sanjay Kishan.
Altogether 28 sitting MLAs of BJP, Congress and AGP would contest in the first phase of polls.
26-year-old Milicharan Basumutary and Wakibur Islam have become younger candidates in the first phase of polls.
While Basumutary would contest from Biswanath constituency on Voters Party International’s ticket, Wakibur will contest as an Independent candidate from Rupahihat constituency.
On the other hand, former minister Premadhar Bora, 85, will contest as an Independent candidate from Bihpuria seat.
