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Election campaigning reaches feverish pitch in Karbi Anglong

By The Assam Tribune

CORRESPONDENT

Diphu, March 23: Campaigning for the Assam Assembly polls has reached a feverish pitch in entire Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council administered autonomous hill districts i.e. Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong.

From cycles to bikes, cars to helicopters; candidates, campaigners are leaving no stone unturned to make sure their presence is felt in every corners of the district, from most interior high altitude areas of Singhason hill range to the dense forested locations of Tarapung, Borpung, Akhoiphuta, Khon Bamon.

Residents of places bordering Meghalaya and of West Karbi Anglong are seeing their leaders at their doorstep on a regular basis. As a new addition, the BJP leaders are using helicopters of assorted size and shape to arrive at some out-of-the-way locations of high altitude and marshy lands.

Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council’s Chief Executive Member, the de-facto kingmaker Tuliram Ronghang, Member of Parliament Horen Sing Bey and influential Executive Member of the council Amarsing Tisso took wings from Karbi Anglong Sports Association’s pitch to reach three locations to promote BJP candidate Rupsing Teron contesting from Baithalangso constituency of West Karbi Anglong. The trio addressed large BJP rallies at Jirikindeng, Arsong and Langhemphi considered being inaccessible regions of West Karbi Anglong.

Addressing the BJP rally at Jirikindeng, Tuliram Ronghang declared that, if the people of the locality want to see more growth and economic expansion, then they should collectively vote for BJP in the upcoming election. “The Congress period in office was of corruption and dishonesty. Only the BJP is capable of bringing development and progress to newer heights,” he said. Horensing Bey, Member of Parliament also resonated similar line of opinion.

On the flip side, erosion of the support base of Congress and ASDC has become a regular feature in the hills. The deserters are joining BJP as their first choice. A large number of opposition workers from the Autonomous State Demand Committee and Congress united with BJP at the Jirikindeng rally of the saffron party.

Seeing the BJP leaders coming out from flying machines fresh as peppermint is stimulating the enthusiasm of the party activists in the rural areas. In the chequered history of Karbi hills an incumbent Chief Executive Member is doing election campaigning in chopper is now considered worth tittle-tattle by many.

For the Howraghat seat, ASDC candidate Chandra Kanta Terang has begun his campaign since last Saturday. Terang and his campaign co-coordinator Dorsing Dera began the campaign by snatching quite a few party workers both from BJP and Congress who joined ASDC formally. The Langpher BJP Mandal Committee organized a massive bike rally for showcasing potency of BJP candidate Bidya Sing Engleng contesting from Diphu constituency against the party apostate Sum Ronghang.

Thousands of BJP activists took part in the colorful rally which fell on track from Bakaliaghat Sports Association playground, the stronghold of Congress. BJP’s candidate Bidyasing Engleng later inaugurated BJP booth committee office at Rajapathar Tiniali.

While instating the party office, Engleng fiercely criticised his rival Congress candidate Sum Ronghang for parting with BJP. Engleng alleged Congress of promoting dynastic politics. Engleng in his daylong campaigning covered Pubsilputa, Phonglokpet, Longsekjan, Barelong and Kachomari locality of the constituency.

Member of Autonomous Council of the area Ramsing Timung, Bakalia Municipal Board chairman Hemsing Teron, former MAC Kangjang Terang and others accompanied Engleng during his campaign.

Both the autonomous districts are going for the poll on 1st April and the four Scheduled Tribe (Hills) reserved seats are Bokajan, Howraghat, Diphu and Baithalangso. In all the constituencies’ under all circumstances straight fight is on the anvil between Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian National Congress in all the four seats.

Diphu constituency is considered to be the celebrated seat where 11 candidates are in fray. Straight contest is expected between Hill Areas Development Minister and Congress candidate Sum Ronghang and BJP contender Bidya Sing Engleng. This time 3,28,690 voters will exercise their franchise. Out of the 3,28,690 voters 1,64,247 are male, 1,64,433 are female while 10 are transgenders.

Earlier, Sum Ronghang defeated Bidya Sing Engleng in the last Assembly elections of 2016 from BJP plank. Ronghang won with 64,421 votes and beat the then INC’s Bidya Sing Engelng who received 36,052 votes. After the shift of paradigm Ronghang is contesting from Congress banner this time.

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