Assam polls 2026: Youth leaders & party loyals shape BJP’s list of 1st-timers

GUWAHATI: A total of 16 of the 89 candidates announced by BJP on Thursday are first-time contenders for assembly elections. The list features six old party leaders, including three serving state general secretaries who have worked for the organisation for decades, alongside 10 young party workers.

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma projected the selections as a strategic acknowledgment of organisational loyalty, saying the nominees were chosen for their long-standing grassroots performance.


“Lots of youth from the party, who have been working at the grassroots relentlessly for years, have been given tickets. This is very good for the party because we have been able to promote youth or young blood every time,” the CM said.

He added that introducing fresh faces has always been a priority for BJP in every election.

Sarma said many senior leaders, most of whom have served the party since its inception here, have been given tickets for this election. “Mridul Kumar Dutta in Dergaon, Vijay Kumar Gupta in Guwahati Central constituency, besides all three serving general secretaries — Diplu Ranjan Sarma, former Lok Sabha MP and state minister Pallab Lochan Das, and Pulok Gohain — have been given tickets. Party workers who worked hard for decades have got a ticket this election. This is the first time that such old BJP workers have got the candidature for the assembly polls,” he added.

On dynasty politics, the CM said, “Unless it is very important, we don’t give a ticket to family members in BJP. All the 88 party workers, who got a ticket, worked at the grassroots for decades and have been able to make it to the list for tickets through their work.”

Among the youth first-timers are Pabitra Rabha from Goalpara West (ST), Himanshu Shekhar Baishya from Palasbari, Dhiraj Gowala from Titatbor, Dr Milon Das from Hailakandi, Rishiraj Hazarika from Ranganadi, Rupali Langthasa from Haflong (ST), Raju Mech from Boko-Chaygaon (ST) and Victor Kumar Das from Goreswar, among others.

Diplu Ranjan Sarma will contest from the New Guwahati constituency, while Pallab Lochan Das and Pulok Gohain will contest from Bishwanath and Tinsukia, respectively.