New Delhi/Guwahati, March 14 (NationPress) - The Congress Party has unveiled its second batch of 23 candidates for the forthcoming Assam Legislative Assembly elections, ramping up its campaign efforts in the region.

Following the announcement from the All India Congress Committee (AICC), the party has now put forward candidates for a total of 65 constituencies. This follows an initial list of 42 candidates, marking a proactive approach to their electoral strategy in this key northeastern state.

The latest list features candidates for various significant constituencies across lower, central, and upper Assam, including the Barak Valley.

Highlighted names in this announcement include Kartik Chandra Ray (Golakganj), Wazed Ali Choudhury (Birsing Jarua), Amrit Badsha (Bilasipara), Mohibur Rohman (Mankachar), Santanu Borah (New Guwahati), Riju Moni Talukdar (Mangaldai), Jhilli Choudhury (Hojai), Dr Sankar Jyoti Kutum (Gohpur), and Sailen Sonowal (Dhemaji-ST).

Additional candidates include Nurul Islam (Srijangram), Abdul Khaleque (Mandia), Rakibuddin Ahmed (Chaygaon/Chamaria), Pranjit Choudhury (Rangia), Kishore Kumar Baruah (Dimoria-SC), Batash Urang (Dhekiajuli), Kartik Chandra Kurmi (Rangapara), Devid Phukan (Tinsukia), Bipul Gogoi (Tingkhong), Sagarika Bora (Dergaon), Dhruv Jyoti Purkayastha (Dholai-SC), and Aminur Rashid Choudhury (Karimganj South).

The party's press release also indicated that several constituencies, such as Bhowanipur-Sorbhog, Bajali, Palasbari, Guwahati Central, Goreswar, Morigaon, Barhampur, Binnakandi, Behali, Sadiya, Dibrugarh, Khowang, Sarupathar, Diphu (ST), and Amri (ST) have been left open for potential alliance partners as part of ongoing seat-sharing discussions.

This announcement arrives amid shifting political dynamics in Assam as the elections approach.

The Congress is considering alliances with regional parties, though negotiations have encountered challenges. Talks with Raijor Dal, for example, have recently stalled, highlighting the complexities of uniting the opposition in the state.

Simultaneously, other political entities are positioning themselves. The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has confirmed it will contest the elections independently and has begun to announce its own candidates.

Insiders suggest that the Congress's proactive candidate announcements are a strategic move to invigorate party workers and create momentum before the Election Commission sets the poll dates.

The party’s leadership, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and senior officials overseeing the Assam campaign, convened strategy meetings in New Delhi prior to finalizing this list.

In contrast, the ruling BJP has yet to release its candidate list, with expectations that it will unveil names in the coming week.

With the release of this second list, the Congress has now covered over half of Assam's 126 Assembly constituencies, indicating that the party is accelerating its preparations to contest against the ruling BJP-led coalition in the upcoming elections.

Further announcements are anticipated as coalition negotiations conclude and the party finalizes candidates for the remaining constituencies.