KAAC election: 165 candidates in fray, voting on June 8

Our Correspondent

Diphu, May 27 (EMN): A total of 7,03,293 voters will decide the fate of 165 candidates across 906 polling stations in the two ad ministrative districts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong for the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) election to be held on June 8.

Langpher constituency has one of the highest numbers of contestants for the election.

The Congress has fielded Purnima Ronghangpi, the daughter of Karbi Anglong District Congress Committee president, while Phuding Terang, who was also a Congress leader and was denied a party ticket, is contesting as an independent candidate.

Madhuram Lekthe, the new face for the BJP said, “There are many contenders for the party ticket. I also, as a loyal party worker, submitted my papers for candidature. I was not serious about getting ticket because getting a ticket is not my top priority. But luck favoured me.”

At Chauhan Basti, expressing confidence of winning the election, Lekthe said, “The next five years will see many changes in Langpher. No decision will be taken by my own.”

On the other hand, the KRAA supported independent candidate Ratan Terang admonished BJP candidate Lekthe for calling his group as ‘jokrai, jokrui – naked party’.

Terang said, “Lekthe called us naked party. How can he utter such words to Rong Asar (traditional village heads), who gets respect and honour in Karbi society. This shows that he doesn’t know how to give respect to Rong Asar.”

He alleged that on May 25, few BJP workers disrupted his meeting at Sodarso, Phonglokpet and added that there is difference between old and new BJP. While giving party tickets also, the RSS has taken a large share and then BJP, he added.

Terang promised to construct Hongpharla (open shed in every traditional village head houses), upliftment of education, Science and Commerce stream at Rukasen College, Bakulia and development of Langpher if he won the election.

Meanwhile, Bipin Kumar Choudhary, a prominent businessman from Diphu town has also fielded himself as an independent candidate from Lumbajong Member of Autonomous Council (MAC) constituency.

A big business name in Diphu, ‘Choudhary’ is a family business dealing in all types of furniture, bus services, tyre dealers, batteries and management of petrol pumps in Karbi Anglong.

When asked as to what inspired him to contest the election, Choudhary said he wants to work for the development of business communities.

“My slogan for the election is ‘Give one chance then see my work.’ My main concern is to give employment opportunities to locals in business units and women empowerment. I will try to give 60 percent employment to women and 40 percent to men in the business sector”, Choudhary said.

He further stated that, “Politics is in my blood. I came here from Sitamadhi district of Bihar with zero account in 1992, but now, I am fully devoted for the betterment of society.” 

Every person knows me as Choudhary and I have confidence in the voters of Diphu town and rural areas that they will vote for me, he added. 

ASDC releases manifesto

The manifesto of Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), the regional political party of Karbi Anglong, was released by its secretary Daniel Teron in Diphu.

The manifesto criticised the BJP for failing to create an autonomous state in spite of its promises, Congress and All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC) for failing to unite to bring down the BJP.

The regional party opposes the alleged “Give and take” policy of the BJP in solving the inter-state boundary problem.

The party further promised to support the small and petty contractors, who were destroyed by the BJP and Congress, enhance the allowance of Sarkari Goanburas, provide allowance to traditional village headman, implement MoU signed in 1995 and publish voter list, land pattas in English.