Last-Day Nomination Frenzy in Cachar: 56 Candidates Jump Into the Election Race

As the pulse of the polls pickup in Assam, Cachar district recorded 56 nomination papers filed in a single day across seven Assembly constituencies, marking one of the most intense phases of the ongoing election process and setting the tone for a closely fought contest. Monday (March 23) was the last day for filing nominations for the upcoming polls scheduled on April 9 in Assam. 

At the office of the District Commissioner in Silchar, seven candidates filed their nominations, including BJP’s Dr Rajdeep Roy, Congress candidate Abhijit Paul and SUCI’s Bhabatosh Chakraborty, along with independent candidates Paplu Nath, Subrata Kumar Chand, Ranu Das and Gautam Das for Silchar. The constituency saw notable political undercurrents as sitting MLA Dipayan Chakraborty, who was denied a party ticket, remained present during Roy’s filing, reflecting internal cohesion despite the change in candidature.

Udharbond witnessed five nominations, with BJP candidate Rajdeep Goala, Congress nominee Ajit Singh and Trinamool Congress candidate Tapas Das among those in the fray. SUCI’s Dilip Kumar Rea and independent Mithun Nath also filed their papers, pointing towards a multi-cornered contest in the constituency. Mithun Nath too was a long term BJP leader, who quit the party after it didn’t name him as the candidate for Udharbond.

In Dholai, five candidates submitted their nominations, including BJP’s Amiya Kanti Das, Congress candidate Dhruvajyoti Purkayastha and SUCI’s Gour Chandra Das, along with independent candidates Parimal Das and Santosh Kumar Digwal. The absence of sitting BJP MLA Nihar Ranjan Das from the final list drew attention, especially after his earlier announcement to contest as an independent following denial of a party ticket. However, he later reconsidered his decision after discussions with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and did not file his nomination.

Borkhola saw seven candidates entering the race. Congress has fielded Dr Amit Kalwar, a new face, while BJP has brought back former MLA Kishore Nath, who had been denied a ticket in the previous election when the party lost the seat. SUCI candidate Sampa De is also in the fray, along with independent candidates Prasenjit Das, Jahurul Islam Barbhuiya, Hifzur Rahman Laskar and Amlendu Das. Amalendu Das, was a BJP member who didn’t get nomination from the party and decided to contest independent.

In Katigorah, which recorded one of the highest numbers with 14 nominations, BJP candidate Kamalakshya Dey Purkayastha’s entry has added significance to the race. A three-time Congress MLA from North Karimganj, his shift in both party and constituency has drawn considerable political interest. Other candidates include Congress nominee Amar Chand Jain, who was once a BJP MLA from Katigorah. SUCI candidate Hillol Bhattacharjee, Vikas India Party candidate Abdul Wadud Choudhury, Trinamool Congress candidate Mohammad Faijur Rahman Laskar, along with independent candidates Kaushik Das, Nurul Alam Barbhuiya, Raju Das, Sandeep Das, Ebazul Haque Laskar, Nasir Uddin Barbhuiya, Saleh Ahmed Mazumdar, Shiva Narayan Singh and Sanju Munda, filed their papers making it one of the most crowded contests.

Lakhipur registered four nominations, including BJP’s Kaushik Rai and Congress candidate M Shanti Kumar, along with independent candidates Sanjay Nunia and Ziab-ul Islam Laskar.

Sonai matched Katigorah with 14 nominations, featuring SUCI candidate Anjan Kumar Chand, Trinamool Congress candidate Shahjahan Laskar, AGP candidate Karim Uddin Barbhuiya, Congress candidate Aminul Haque Laskar, AIUDF candidate Minar Hossain Mazarbhuiya, Vikas India Party candidate Abdul Matlab Laskar, along with independent candidates M.M. Mujahidul Mazumdar, Poton Lal Rabidas, Nazrul Islam Laskar, Hasan Ahmed Barbhuiya, Ramzan Uddin Mazumdar, Jainul Haque Mazumdar, Alam Hossain Laskar and Pritam Nath, indicating a fragmented electoral field.

The sharp surge in last-day filings across Cachar underlines an intensified political mobilisation, with several constituencies witnessing crowded contests and evolving electoral equations. With polling scheduled for April 9, 2026, and results to be declared on May 4, all eyes are now on how these contests unfold. Notably, this election will be the first Assembly poll to be held after the recent delimitation exercise, adding further significance to the outcome.