Assam polls: Congress finalises candidates for 40 seats; Gaurav Gogoi likely to contest from Jorhat

NEW DELHI: Congress leader and party's deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi is likely to contest the upcoming Assam assembly election from Jorhat constituency, news agency ANI reported, citing party sources.This comes as the grand-old-party finalised candidates for as many as 40 seats during the Central Election Committee meeting held on Friday. "Congress will release its first list of candidates after the election announcement," sources said. Gogoi is currently serving as a member of Parliament from prestigious Jorhat Lok Sabha seat of Assam. In 2023 general elections, Gogoi - who is also Assam Congress chief - defeated Topon Kumar Gogoi.Gaurav secured 7,51,771 votes, while Topon managed to garner 6,07,378 votes, thereby winning by a margin of 1,44,393 votes.As a parliamentarian, Gogoi came to limelight after initiating the no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government in August 2023.Although Gaurav has always been vocal against the BJP government inside and outside the House, he shot to limelight after initiating the no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government in August last year. His speech became an instant hit, especially among the youths.Considered as a confidante of Rahul Gandhi, Gogoi has served member of several house committees such as the standing committee on railways, the consultative committee of ministry of communications and information technology, and committee on violation of protocol norms and contemptuous behaviour of government officers with members of Lok Sabha.Assam is set to hold assembly elections later this year, with the BJP, led by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, aiming to retain power while facing a renewed challenge from the Congress.