Guwahati : The Bharatiya Janata Party   announced its first list of 88 candidates for the Assam Assembly elections, dropping more than 10 sitting MLAs while inducting new faces and effecting key constituency changes.

In a significant move, senior leader Atul Bora was denied a ticket from Dispur, with former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi fielded in his place. Former state BJP president Siddhartha Bhattacharya has also been dropped from New Guwahati, where the party has nominated Diplu Ranjan Sarmah.

In Palasbari, Hemanga Thakuria has been replaced by Himangshu Shekhar Baishya, while in Bihpuria, Amiya Bhuyan has made way for Bhupen Borah.

Similarly, Ramakrishna Ghosh has been replaced by Shiladitya Dev in Hojai, and Diganta Ghatowal by Munindra Das in Behali. In Barchalla, Ritu Baran Sarmah has been fielded in place of Ganesh Limbu.

The party has, however, retained several senior leaders, with Suren Phukan renominated from Digboi and Prashanta Phukan from Dibrugarh. In Tinsukia, Pulak Gohain has replaced Sanjay Kishan, who will now contest from Makum.

In Biswanath, Promod Borthakur has been replaced by Pallab Lochan Das, while in Bokajan, Deputy Speaker Nomal Momin has been replaced by Suriya Rongphar. In Silchar, former MP Rajdeep Roy was fielded, replacing Dipayan Chakraborty.

A key contest is expected in Jorhat, where sitting MLA and former Assembly Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami will face Gaurav Gogoi. The reshuffle reflects the BJP’s strategy of balancing continuity with change while accommodating shifting political alignments ahead of the high-stakes Assembly elections.