Sonowal, Sarma in BJP’s list of 88 candidates for Assam polls

In a late night development on Wednesday, the BJP announced the names of 88 candidates for the Assam Assembly polls, including those of its Chief Ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal, former Congress leader Himanta Biswa Sarma and Lok Sabha MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasha, who has been fielded against Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

The party’s Central Election Committee (CEC) cleared the names for all, but two of the 90 seats it will contest in the polls for the 126-member state Assembly. The party also cleared 52 candidates for the election to 294-member West Bengal assembly.

Party chief Amit Shah chaired the meeting, which was attended by PM Narendra Modi besides other CEC members. “Our list of candidates has the representation of greater Assamese society. It is a reflection of greater Assam,” Union Minister JP Nadda said.