Phase I polls: More than 50 % candidates Independents, less than 10 % women

ASSAM ELECTIONS

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, March 24: Altogether 539 candidates are in fray for the first-phase of the Assam assembly elections slated for April 4, the Election Commission said today.

Of them, 280 are Independents, while only 43, which is less than 10 per cent, are female.

The Congress has fielded candidates in all the 65 seats which go to polls on April 4. The BJP has fielded candidates in 54, while its alliance partner AGP will contest in 11 constituencies.

The AIUDF has put up candidates in 27 seats. The BPF will also fight in three of the 65 first-phase seats.

The maximum number of candidates is in Karimganj South from where 25 candidates have filed nomitions. As many as 23 candidates are vying for the Hailakandi seat.

Biswath Chariali, Thawra and Howraghat will witness three-cornered contests. Four candidates are in fray each in Baithalangsu and Majuli.

There are six candidates in Titabor, where Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is mainly pitted against BJP's Kamakhya Prasad Tasa.

The numbers of candidates in other key constituencies are: Jorhat - 7, Silchar - 15, Diphu - 5, Tezpur - 8, Bokakhat - 6, Golaghat - 4, Amguri - 8, Sivasagar - 8, Lakhimpur - 14, Dhemaji - 9 and Tinsukia - 7.