Guwahati, March 27 Only eight percent of the total 722 candidates contesting the Assam Assembly elections are women, with no third gender candidate in the race, an official statement said on Friday.
Independent candidates account for over 250 of the total candidates, while the main opposition Congress and ruling BJP have each fielded 90 or more contenders.
Details shared by the office of the chief electoral officer said that of the 722 candidates contesting in the 126 Assembly constituencies, 663 are male and 59 are female, with none in the "Other" category.
The highest number of candidates are contesting in the Algapur-Katlicherra and Karimganj South constituencies, where 15 are each.
Nine constituencies will witness direct contests between two candidates. These are Rangia, Jagiroad, Hojai, Naduar, Jonai, Doom-Dooma, Mahmora, Teok and Lakhipur.
A total of 258 independent candidates are contesting the elections.
The ruling NDA parties, BJP, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), have fielded candidates in 90, 26 and 11 constituencies, respectively.
Among the opposition parties, Congress is contesting in 99 seats, Raijor Dal in 13, CPI(M) in two, Assam Jatiya Parishad in 10, and CPI (ML) Liberation in three.
The AIUDF has nominees in 30 constituencies, while the United People's Party, Liberal (UPPL) has fielded candidates in 18 seats.
The Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) (Communist) has candidates in 41 seats, Trinamool Congress in 22, Aam Aadmi Party in 18, Voters Party International in 17, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in 16, and Gana Suruksha Party and Rashtriya Ulama Council in 10 each.
Other parties in the fray include All India Forward Bloc in two constituencies, CPI in three, Republican Party of India (Athewale) in four, and National People's Party in three.
Elections for the 126-member Assam Assembly will be held on April 9. Votes will be counted on May 4.
In the outgoing Assembly, the ruling BJP has 64 MLAs, while its allies AGP has nine, UPPL has seven, and BPF has three members.
In the opposition camp, Congress has 26 MLAs, AIUDF has 15 and CPI(M) has one MLA. There is also one independent legislator.