On Sunday, October 20, Congress unveiled its slate of candidates for the upcoming November 13 Assembly by-elections in Assam and Madhya Pradesh, showcasing a mix of familiar faces and fresh contenders. With key political stakes in play, the by-polls are set to be a litmus test for Congress as it battles to reclaim lost ground in both states.

The announcement comes after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge approved the nominations for the by-elections, which are poised to take place in key assembly constituencies across Assam and Madhya Pradesh. The results of the by-polls will be counted on November 23, 2024.

Assam By-Elections: Candidates and Key Seats

In Assam, Congress revealed its candidates for four out of five seats:

Dhrubajyoti Purakayastha will contest from the Dholai (SC) constituency.

Sanjib Warle will represent the Sidli (ST) seat.

Brajenjit Sinha has been fielded for the Bongaigaon constituency.

Tanzil Hussain will contest from Samuguri.

The by-elections in Assam became necessary following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where several sitting MLAs shifted their focus to parliamentary roles. The constituencies involved in the electoral process are Dholai, Sidli, Bongaigaon, Behali, and Samuguri.

Several prominent political figures in Assam, including Parimal Suklabaidya (BJP) from Dholai and Ranjit Dutta (BJP) from Behali, vacated their assembly seats to pursue successful bids in the Lok Sabha elections, winning the Cachar and Tezpur constituencies, respectively. Furthermore, veteran Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader Phani Bhushan Choudhury, who held sway in Bongaigaon since 1985, transitioned to the Lok Sabha, winning the Barpeta seat.

Meanwhile, the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL)’s Joyanta Basumatary, a former MLA from Sidli, secured a victory in Kokrajhar, while Congress’s Rakibul Hussain cemented his political influence by winning the Dhubri Lok Sabha seat by a significant margin. Hussain, a five-time legislator from Samuguri, emerged as a strong contender in the parliamentary race, reinforcing Congress’s presence in the region.

Madhya Pradesh By-Elections: Candidates and Key Constituencies

In Madhya Pradesh, the Congress party has fielded two candidates for the November by-polls:

Mukesh Malhotra will contest from the Vijaypur constituency.

Rajkumar Patel has been nominated for the Budhni constituency.

These by-elections became necessary after significant political shifts within the state. In Budhni, the seat was vacated following the resignation of Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who transitioned to a parliamentary role after winning the Vidisha Lok Sabha seat earlier this year and subsequently becoming a Union minister. Meanwhile, Vijaypur's assembly seat opened up after Rawat, a former Congress MLA, resigned from his position and joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Rawat is now serving as the state’s forest minister.

Both by-polls are set to take place in the Sehore and Sheopur districts of Madhya Pradesh, marking crucial contests that could alter the state's political landscape. The outcomes of these elections could have significant implications for the balance of power within the state's assembly, particularly as Madhya Pradesh has witnessed fluctuating allegiances and political realignments over the past year.

Political Stakes and Implications

The upcoming by-elections are critical for Congress, which has been striving to regain a foothold in both Assam and Madhya Pradesh. In Assam, the party faces stiff competition from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies, including the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and UPPL, all of whom have been able to expand their influence through recent electoral successes in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

In Madhya Pradesh, the by-polls represent an opportunity for Congress to rebuild its strength after a period of political turbulence. The ruling BJP, under the leadership of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, continues to dominate the state, and the by-elections in Budhni and Vijaypur will be a test of Congress's ability to regain lost ground.

Both states are pivotal to Congress’s broader electoral strategy as it looks ahead to future assembly and national elections. The by-polls offer the party a chance to reinvigorate its base, challenge the ruling parties, and signal its readiness to lead in upcoming contests.

Conclusion

As the by-elections approach, the spotlight is on the nominated candidates who will be vying for crucial seats in Assam and Madhya Pradesh. Congress’s choice of candidates reflects a strategic approach to reclaim constituencies that have either been vacated due to MLAs shifting to parliamentary roles or due to political realignments. The November 13 by-elections and the subsequent results on November 23 will provide valuable insights into the party's prospects in both states.

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