HT Correspondent
DONGKAMUKAM, April 9: Campaigning in the West Karbi Anglong district by all MP candidates has commenced following validation by the returning officer at Diphu. There are five contenders vying for the No 6 Diphu parliamentary seat, where over 500,000 voters will determine their fate on April 26, 2024. The candidates include Amarsingh Tisso (BJP), Joyram Engleng (INC), Jotson Bey (ASDC), JI Kathar (APHLC), and John Bernard Sangma (GSP).
The Opposition party Congress has fielded Joyram Engleng, ex-CEM of KAAC and also a former MLA of BJP who represented the Howraghat constituency for five years. He was regarded as one of the pioneer members in establishing the BJP stronghold in the Hills area of Assam. However, he was denied a ticket for another term. Engleng blamed the high command for denying him a ticket. As an experienced politician, Engleng recently expressed confidence in winning from the Diphu seat. “People are fed up with Modi’s ‘ache din’; they don’t want him now, they want change,” the INC candidate said.
JI Kathar, a retired bureaucrat representing APHLC, is also moving forward on the APHLC banner. He is spearheading for a stronger Sixth Schedule and implementation of Article 244(A). He is conducting MAC-wise awareness campaigns these days. Two days back, in the Kopili constituency, he slammed both BJP and Congress for failing to protect indigenous rights and the people of the hills.
BJP sitting EM of KAAC, Amarsingh Tisso, also clearly stated that he will win and his agenda is development mantra. His star campaigner is reported to be the state chief minister and KAAC chief Dr Tuliram Ronghang. Additionally, five MLAs from hill districts, including EMs of KAAC and Dima Hasao, support Tisso’s candidacy.
In a pocket meeting at Niz Rongkhang and a far-flung remote hilltop area on Tuesday, MS Timung EM KAAC assured of making Ronghang Rongbong the headquarters of Karbi Kingdom to be the topmost model village in days to come. He asked the gathering to vote for the ruling party for more development for the district. Similar such a campaigning meet was held at Rongchingdon, Hamren. The Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), who once ruled the council for 15 years, also began their canvas, especially in the village area. The candidate of ASDC and former CEM of KAAC, Jotson Bey, in the meeting claimed BJP and Congress have done nothing for Karbi people. “They are a cheater party,” he said. On the other hand, until Tuesday no canvas was reported from Gana Suraksha Parishad (GSP) in West Karbi Anglong.
