Misbahul Islam Laskar Left Out as Congress Bets on Doctor-Turned-Politician for Borkhola

The Indian National Congress on Tuesday became the first major party in Assam to declare its candidates for the 2026 Assembly elections, setting the tone for an early contest in the Barak Valley and beyond. In a significant decision, the party’s Central Election Committee named Dr Amit Kumar Kalwar as its candidate from Borkhola, effectively removing the three-time MLA Misbahul Islam Laskar from the equation.

The announcement was made on 3 March 2026. While other major parties are yet to release their lists, Congress has moved swiftly, fuelling fresh political discussions across the region.

Dr Kalwar, a Silchar-based internal medicine specialist, formally entered politics in October 2025 when he joined the Congress in Guwahati in the presence of state president Gaurav Gogoi. His return to Silchar shortly after was marked by a large rally that drew thousands of supporters and a long convoy of vehicles, creating immediate political buzz in Cachar district.

Since then, speculation had been growing that he would contest from Borkhola, a constituency he has often described as his home. With Tuesday’s declaration, that speculation has now been confirmed.

The decision also signals a major shift within the party in Borkhola. Misbahul Islam Laskar, who represented the constituency in the Assam Legislative Assembly after winning the 2021 polls and earlier served from 1996 to 2006, has been left out of the fray. He had also held ministerial portfolios in the past and chaired the Assam Minority Development Board.

In recent years, however, local dissatisfaction had surfaced over development issues in parts of Borkhola. In May 2025, youths from Durgapur near Ranighat staged a silent road blockade to protest the poor condition of a key stretch connecting Ranighat, Jarailtola and Borkhola. Protesters had alleged delays in repair work despite repeated assurances. Floods later interrupted further agitation, but the issue remained politically sensitive.

The Congress leadership’s choice of a new face comes in the backdrop of constituency changes following delimitation. The altered boundaries and demographic shifts, including the addition of various areas such as Borjalenga, are expected to influence voting patterns in the upcoming election. Now it remains to be seen whether the revised demography will favour Dr Kalwar or benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is yet to announce its candidate for Borkhola.

With the 2026 Assembly elections approaching, apart from Dr Kalwar in Borkhola, the party has named Ajit Singh for Udharbond, M Santi Kumar Singha for Lakhipur, Jakaria Ahmed for Karimganj North, Abhijit Paul for Silchar, Aminul Haque Laskar for Sonai, Suruchi Roy for Ramkrishna Nagar and Kartik Sena Sinha for Patharkandi.

As other parties prepare to unveil their nominees, Congress has drawn first blood in the candidate announcement race, setting up what promises to be a closely watched electoral battle in the region.