GUWAHATI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday released its 3rd list of candidates for the Assam assembly elections. Among the 17 candidates named in the list, 5 candidates are Muslims.
The party has fielded Ashadul Islam for the Salmara South seat.
In 2016, Wazed Ali Choudhury of Congress claimed victory in this constituency with 80,066 votes (54.7% of total vote share). The Muslim voters play a key-role in this constituency of Western Assam. Therefore, it has remained a stronghold for Maulana Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF).
In 2011, AIUDF candidate Abdur Rahman Ajmal, son of party supremo Maulana Badruddin Ajmal won from Salmara South with 62,254 votes (50.6%). Badruddin Ajmal was also elected from this constituency in 2006. He won with 55,767 votes (53.3%).
Another Muslim candidate Dr. Abu Bakkar Siddique will contest from Bilasipara West. The seat is currently in the hands of AIUDF. AIUDF’s Hafiz Bashir Ahmed won the seat in 2016 election with 44,407 votes.
The saffron party has named Osman Goni for the Jaleswar constituency. AIUDF MLA Sahab Uddin Ahmed has been representing this seat following his victory with 56,003 votes in 2016.
Best wishes to all our Assembly Election candidates for the Third Phase of #AssamElections2021. We seek the blessings of the people of Assam on their behalf. pic.twitter.com/b7Gv6ln7EB
— BJP Assam Pradesh (@BJP4Assam) March 14, 2021
On the other hand, Shahidul Islam has been named as the BJP candidate for Jania. In 2019 by-poll which was necessitated by the election of Congress’ Abdul Khaleque to Lok Sabha, Rafiqul Islam of AIUDF won from Jania with a margin of 35,141 votes.
In the 2016 assembly elections, INC’s Abdul Khaleque, with 86,930 votes, defeated Rafiqul Islam, who got just 57,194 votes.
Meanwhile, a Muslim woman candidate has been named in this list for the third phase of polls. Hasinara Khatun will contest as a BJP candidate for the Baghbar seat.
In 2016, Sherman Ali Ahmed of Congress won this constituency with 73,340 votes (58.0%).
Read: BJP RELEASES LIST OF 17 CANDIDATES FOR ASSAM ELECTIONS, FULL LIST HERE
