HT Bureau
DIPHU, April 24: Campaign ends for the second phase of the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in Karbi Anglong on Wednesday.
The Diphu (ST) parliamentary constituency will go to polls during the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 26. A total of 8,92,789 voters from the three hill districts will cast their votes on this day.
Five candidates, who are in fray in the constituency are BJP candidate Amarsing Tisso, former MLA and Congress candidate Joyram Engleng, former CEM, KAAC Jotson Bey as Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) candidate, JI Kathar as All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC) backed independent candidate and John Barnard Sangma as Gana Suraksha Party (GSP) candidate.
The Diphu (ST) parliamentary constituency covers five LA segments of Diphu, Bokajan, Howraghat of Karbi Anglong, Baithalangso of West Karbi Anglong and Halflong of Dima Hasao. There are a total of 8,92,789 voters, out of which 4,45,084 are male voters and 4,47,705 are female voters. With the delimitation of assembly constituencies in the state, one more LA seat has been created in West Karbi Anglong i.e. Amri LAC, while the existing Baithalangso LAC has been renamed as Rongkhang LAC.
17 days of high voltage campaign that had begun from April 8, saw high political drama with allegations and counter allegations among political parties. The autonomoussState has been the main poll issue for all political parties.
The BJP, which has been criticised by opposition parties of not being in favour of the autonomous state, has put it as top priority. The party has campaigned harping on the welfare schemes like Arunoodoi, free LPG gas cylinder, ration cards, Ayushman Bharat health scheme and free admission in college and university for poor students.
The BJP ruled KAAC has also been criticised for not being able to pay salaries to its employees and payment of bills to contractors.
The Autonomous State Demand Committee, a regional force for which it has been formed in 1986 for demanding of autonomous state, has taken up the issues of protection of the land and boundaries of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao.
While the APHLC backed independent has also made the autonomous state as the main poll issue. The APHLC led by its president JI Kathar has been demanding for deletion of names of voters of non scheduled tribes from KAAC voters’ list and conduct of re-election, but the issues have not featured in their election manifesto.
The Congress has also given its strong commitment to the people on implementation of Article 244 (A). The party has also taken up the opposition of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as its main agenda.
Meanwhile, the Lumbajong BJP on Wednesday took out a bike rally here in favour of BJP candidate, Amarsing Tisso. Tuliram Ronghang, chief executive member (CEM) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), MP candidate Amarsing Tisso, MAC Johny Timung and ward commissioners from different wards of Diphu town including party leaders and Karyakartas of various levels participated in the rally.
In Dima Hasao district the BJP winded up the poll campaign by taki9ng out a bike rally at Maibong town, where Debolal Garlosa, chief executive member (CEM) of Dima Hasao Autonomous Council  and  executive members (EM) and MACs as well as party Karyakartas including district president, Golonjo Thaosen participated.
In West Karbi Anglong district micro meetings and door-to-door visit by MACs were conducted.
