Mahanta releases list of candidates

GUWAHATI, APRIL 16. The ruling Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) today announced the first list of candidates for 54 Assembly constituencies.

The party would contest 79 seats while it would leave 44 for its ally the BJP, the party president and Chief Minister, Mr. Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, told reporters here.

He said there would be friendly contest with the BJP in 10 seats while the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) would support AGP candidates in 24 seats.

For seven Assembly seats in lower Assam, the AGP in turn would support ABSU-backed candidates, the Chief Minister said.

Prominent in today's list were Mr. Mahanta himself from Bahrampur, the Agriculture Minister, Mr. Chandra Mohan Patowary, Dharmapur, the Rural Development Minister, Mr. Saidul Alam Choudhury, Algapur, the Revenue Minister, Mr. Zoii Nath Sarma, Sipajhar, and Mr. Biraj Kumar Sarma from Guwahati (East).

He said the second and final list of candidates would be declared soon.

Asked to comment on the reported resentment in the ranks of the BJP regarding friendly contest, Mr. Mahanta said it was very much in the agreement.

He hoped that the AGP-BJP combine would gain two- thirds majority in the 126-member House. Commenting on the name of Minister, Mr. Rajendra Mushahary, who is an accused in a rape case finding a place in the list of candidates, Mr. Mahanta said the matter was sub judice.

On the reported letter of the National Human Rights Commission to him not to include Mr. Mushahary in his Cabinet, Mr. Mahanta shot back ``the commission had no right to direct me whom to include in my Cabinet''.

- PTI

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