RDA announces 1st list of 56 candidates

GUWAHATI, April 19: The Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA), consisting of nine political parties, today announced a 56-member list of candidates for the ensuing Assembly election. Of the 56 seats, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) would fight for 42 seats, while 14 have been given to Asom Jatio Sanmilan (AJS) led by former home minister Bhrigu Kumar Phukan. Releasing the list, the NCP general secretary, PA Sangma, said that the RDA would release two more lists of candidates soon. Sangma further informed that the NCP (a constituent of RDA) has received a shot in the arm before the forthcoming election as over 400 members of the State Trinamool Congress joined the party. The NCP candidates are: Keshab Prasad Rajak in Ratabari (SC), Salim Uddin (Patherkandi), Jayanta Rabidas, Dholai (SC), Mahmud Hussain (Udarband), Md Imran Ali Choudhury (Katigorah), Jayanal Abedin Bepari (South Salmara), Sirajuddin Ahmed (Dhubri), Mojahar Ali (Gauripur), Amir Ali (Golokganj), Yusuf Ali, Bilasipara (West), Debabrata Das, Bilasipara (East), Anil Kumar Sarkar (Bijni), Jiten Pathak, Abhayapuri (South), Karuna Kanta Rabha (Dudhnoi), Shadeed Mazumdar, Goalpara (East), Sk Shah Alam, Goalpara, (West), Ajad Ali (Bhabanipur), Khalilur Rahman (Barpeta), Abdus Shobhan (Jania), Abul Kalam Azad (Chaygaon), Kishor Brahma (Barama), Bimal Goyari, Sapaguri (ST), Badal Saha (Dalgaon), Gambhir Bardoloi (Gohpur), Samsul Huda (Laharighat), Jivat Kalita (Dhing), Ghanashyam Bora (Barhampur), Hazi Kalandar Ali Laskar (Jamunamukh), Dinanath Sawra (Kumtai), Sonadhar Das, Dergaon, (SC), Nirmal Goswami (Jorhat), Alak Ghose (Mariani), Siba Prasad Barua (Teok), Ajit Hazarika (Nazira), Lakhi Kanta Handique (Sibasagar), Bolin Kuli (Bihpuria), Padmanath Taid (Lakhimpur), Purabi Sonowal (Dhakuakhana), Purnakanta Pegu, Dhemaji (ST), Dipen Tanti (Lahowal), Bani Kanta Gogoi (Tinkhong), Tikendra Ch Das (Boko). AJS candidates are: Bhula Dev (Hailakandi), Bhrigu Kumar Phukan (Jalukbari), Khitish Das (Raha), Hareswar Sangmai (Moran), I Nanda (Chabua), Phaniram Tayeng (Jonai), Ajay Baruah (Dibrugarh), Niresh Kumar Singh (Sonari), Rajendra Prasad Singh (Tinsukia), Bhadreswar Tanti (Sarupathar), and Akan Talukdar (Senga). The AJS leader, Bhrigu Kumar Phukan, said that the names of the candidates for the Nagaon, Karimganj (South) and Naharkatia would be announced soon. NCP's manifesto: Purno Sangma today released the manifesto for the Assembly election in which the party has laid emphasis on resource mobilisation, gearing up agri-based industries and decentralisation of power up to the panchayat level of the State. Sangma further assured that if the party is voted to power, it would try to reduce corruption from various government departments. "Since floods poses a major problem in the State, the NCP would chalk out various short and long-term plans," Sangma added. He also revealed that the NCP would work for the uplift of tribal people living in the State.