GUWAHATI, March 4 -- The Congress on Tuesday released a list of 42 candidates for the upcoming assembly polls in Assam, becoming the first party in the state to announce contenders for the election. State Congress president and deputy leader of the party in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, will be contesting the election from Jorhat, the parliamentary constituency he currently represents. Assam is expected to go to polls in April for its 126-member assembly. The Congress, which is in talks with several Opposition parties to form an alliance against the ruling BJP-led government, has earlier said it plans to contest 100 seats. Gogoi has been targeted by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has alleged that the son of former chief minister Tarun Gogoi has links with the Pakistan establishment. A special investigation team (SIT) report has also levelled similar allegations against Gogoi's British wife, Elizabeth, who was earlier posted in Pakistan and later in India as a representative of a climate action group. Gogoi has admitted visiting Pakistan once in 2013, before he was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 2014, along with his wife who had official work there. He has, however, denied all allegations and rejected insinuations that he acted against national interest. Other prominent candidates in the list include former state unit president Ripun Bora from Barchalla and Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia from Nazira. Among women candidates, sitting MLA Nandita Das has been fielded from the Hajo-Sualkuchi (SC) seat, while state women's wing president Mira Borthakur Goswami will contest from Dispur. At present, the BJP's strength is 64, while its allies AGP has nine MLAs, UPPL has seven and BPF has three members....