In the Congress’ first list for Assam assembly elections half of the 40 candidates are fresh faces. The party is yet to consult the former chief minister Tarun Gogoi’s family members before nominating a candidate for the Titabor seat.

The first list of 40 candidates for the 47 constituencies was released by Congress on Saturday night.

20 new faces and 6 sitting MLAs are in the list which includes Congress Legislature Party leader Debabrata Saikia in Nazira.

However BJP is eyeing the prestigious Titabor seat while Congress is trying to retain it.

The names of candidates for Tinsukia, Dhakuakhana, Behali, Dhing and Bokakhat and AIUDF-held Naoboicha are yet to be announced.  A Congress spokesperson said, few of these constituencies will be given to alliance partners.

Former minister Rakibul Hussain in Samaguri, Md Nurul Huda in Rupohihat, Rupjyoti Kurmi in Mariani, Roselina Tirkey in Sarupathar and Durga Bhumij in Doomdooma were renominated.

State Congress chief and Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora will contest the Gohpur assembly seat.

The party has also given tickets to 12 candidates, including four women which includes Rana Goswami in Jorhat, Sushanta Borgohain in Thowra, Suruj Dehinga in Mahmara, Bhupen Kumar Borah in Bihpuria, Praneswar Basumatary in Sootea, Dhruba Gogoi in Duliajan and Etuwa Munda in Tingkhong.

Congress has renominated Ranoj Kumar Pegu in Majuli seat who had represented it for three consecutive terms since 2001. Pegu was defeated by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal by over 18,000 votes in the 2016 elections.

The four renominated women who have lost in the last election are former ministers Pranatee Phukan in Naharkatiya, Bismita Gogoi in Khumtai, Pallabi Gogoi in Teok and Angkita Dutta in Amguri.

Sibamoni Bora, the only new woman candidate in the first phase of polling will be competing against actor- turned-sitting BJP MLA Angoorlata Deka in Batadroba constituency.

Besides Bitupan Saikia in Golaghat, Congress has nominated former BJP leader and Tezpur MP Ram Prasad Sarma, who recently joined the Congress, in Barchalla seat.

The party’s other new candidates are in Dhekiajuli, Tezpur, Rangapara, Bishwanath, Kaliabor, Sonari, Sibsagar, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Jonai, Moran, Dibrugarh, Lahowal, Chabua, Digboi, Margherita and Sadiya seats.