The Congress list of 118 candidates, which was announced on Sunday in New Delhi, did not have any surprise as majority of the controversial Congress leaders managed to get nominations.
The list, which included Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai also nominated the ministers of the Gogoi cabinet. However, many of them were at the receiving end for their alleged role in multi-crore rupees N C Hills Scam and acquiring assets disproportionate to their known sources of income, the party decided to re-nominate all of them.
Most of the sitting MLAs were given nomination. The party however failed to create consensus on eight seats, which included Tezpur, Halflong and Gohpur, so names of candidates were not announced for those seats. Significant among others was the name of Debabrata Saikia, son of late chief minister Hiteswar Saikia from Nazira and Kirip Cheliha former Congress MP of Guwahati who has been given nomination from Hajo. The party also rewarded expelled BJP MLA Rumi Nath by giving party ticket from Barrak valley. Ms Nath had deserted BJP with three others to support Rajya Sabha candidate of the Congress party. The party, which is seeking a third consecutive term in power in Assam has ignored criminal backgrounds of many candidates and nominated leaders considering their winning prospect.
Meanwhile, a section of Congress leaders who were denied party ticket have threatened to contest the election independently as rebel candidate.