HT Bureau
DIPHU, April 19: The Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) on Friday held an election meeting with voters of Longchap Engleng village under the Barelong Tokbi LP School Polling Station, within the Langfer Member of Autonomous Council (MAC) constituency.
Longchap Engleng village has long been an ASDC stronghold.
At the gathering, ASDC Vice President Sonasing Terang stated, “We need to contest elections to have elected representatives who can voice our concerns in the State Assembly and Parliament.”
Terang credited the signing of the MoU with the Central government on April 1, 1995, as a pivotal achievement of the Autonomous State movement, noting it enhanced the powers of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) by transferring 30 departments from the State government to the KAAC.
Despite attempts by several anti-autonomous forces, including the BJP and Congress, to derail the Autonomous State movement, the ASDC has persisted.
“On April 12, the ASDC delegation met with Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, urging him to resolve the Autonomous State issue as soon as possible, to which the CM has agreed,” said Terang.
Terang also criticised the All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC)-backed independent candidate JI Kathar and BJP candidate Amarsing Tisso. He also commented that Kathar, having spent his career as an ACS and later an IAS officer outside Karbi Anglong, only entered politics after retirement, questioning his ability to contribute significantly at this stage.
Meanwhile, he accused Tisso, known for his alleged involvement in corruption during land acquisitions for NH 36’s four-lane road construction in Karbi Anglong, of being unfit for office.
He urged voters to maintain their support for ASDC and the struggle for an Autonomous State, appealing to them to vote for Jotson Bey on April 26.
Daniel Teron, ASDC’s publicity secretary, said the BJP’s inability to issue land pattas or support the Autonomous State was evident, especially criticising BJP candidate Amarsing Tisso, who as a sitting member of autonomous council (MAC) and executive member (EM) in charge of Land and Revenue, has failed to clear any files regarding the issuance of land pattas.
Regarding the Congress, Teron noted that candidate Joyram Engleng, along with Karbi Anglong District Congress Committee (KADCC) president Sum Ronghang, Raton Engti, Prodip Rongpi, and Jagatsing Engti, were part of the BJP until recently. They switched parties only after failing to secure BJP tickets.
