Guwahati, March 4: Assam Minister Prasanta Phukan on March 4 launched a scathing attack on the Indian National Congress following the release of its first list of candidates for the 2026 Assembly elections, alleging that the party continues to promote dynastic politics.
Reacting to the announcement, Phukan claimed that the Congress had practised “dynastic-nature politics” for decades. He alleged that the party believed political space should remain confined to certain families, citing the nomination of Tanzil Hussain from Samaguri. Tanzil is the son of Rakibul Hussain, the Member of Parliament from Dhubri, and has been fielded in Nagaon’s Samaguri constituency.
“In family-based politics, one thinks more about family and less about the country. The family progresses and not the country, which is the policy and tradition of the Congress,” Phukan said.
On March 3, the Congress released its first list of 42 candidates for the 2026 Assam Legislative Assembly polls. The list, issued by the All India Congress Committee and signed by AICC General Secretary K. C. Venugopal, includes Deputy Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, who has been nominated from Jorhat. Gogoi is the son of former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
The party has also fielded Prateek Bordoloi from Margherita, son of Nagaon MP Pradyut Bordoloi, highlighting the presence of political legacies in its initial slate. Former Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Ripun Bora has been nominated from Barchalla, while Debabrata Saikia will contest from Nazira.
The list further includes Abdus Sobahan Ali Sarkar from Gauripur and nominees across several Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste constituencies such as Majuli (ST), Bokajan (ST), Rongkhang (ST), Barpeta (SC), Hajo-Sualkuchi (SC), Raha (SC) and Ramkrishna Nagar (SC).
With the first list announced and political rhetoric sharpening, the electoral contest in Assam is expected to intensify in the run-up to the 2026 Assembly elections.
