HT Bureau
DIPHU, May 17: With Member of Autonomous Council (MAC) elections in Karbi Anglong approaching, several former militants lined up to seek tickets from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to contest in the ensuing elections.
Six armed organisations that had signed an MoS with the government of India and government of Assam last year have sought BJP tickets from seven MAC seats from Karbi Anglong district in the ensuing Member of Autonomous Council (MAC) election to Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) to be held on June 8 in the two hill districts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong. The Assam State Election Commission had on May 12 announced the date for the conduct of elections to KAAC.
The armed organisations, viz., Karbi Longri NC Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF), People’s Democratic Council of Karbi Longri (PDCK), three factions of Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers (KPLT) and United People’s Liberation Army (UPLA) had on September 4, 2021, signed an MoS with the State and Central government to end their armed struggle in the twin hill districts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong.
After the signing of the MoS, and on September 25, 2021, the organisations were disbanded and joined the BJP on October 9, 2021.
In a press conference held here at District Press Club of Karbi Anglong office on Tuesday, the former home secretary of KLNLF and now secretary of Karbi Ex-Revolutionary United Forum, Umesh Teron said in the ensuing KAAC election they will field six candidates under the banner of Karbi Ex-Revolutionary United Forum and for which they are seeking BJP tickets.
Teron said, “There are more than 1,000 cadres and in order to see to their problems and needs we need elected members in the KAAC. Due to these needs, we are fielding our candidates in seven MAC constituencies. The candidates are ex-chairman, KLNLF Prodip Terang alias P Dilli from Duarbagori MAC constituency; former defence secretary of KLNLF Binaram Singnar alias Songja Timung from Nilip MAC constituency; former finance secretary of KLNLF Riso Tokbi alias Habe Tokbi from Borjan MAC constituency; former general secretary of KLNLF Rupsing Teron alias Thong Teron from Phuloni MAC constituency; former publicity secretary of KLNLF Willingson Phangcho alias Rijak Dera from Howgraghat and Korkhanti MAC constituencies and former general secretary of UPLA Longki Bey alias Win Bey from Langfer MAC constituency.”
“We urged the chief minister of Assam Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and chief executive member (CEM) of KAAC Tuliram Ronghang to provide party tickets to the six candidates we will field. We also urged the BJP to lend their support for winning from those six seats,” Teron said.
