GUWAHATI:
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won all the 26 seats in the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) in Assam, while Congress drew a blank after the results for the council elections were announced on June 12.
KAAC chief Tuliram Ronghang retained his Bithung Rengthama Member of Autonomous Council (MAC) constituency by defeating his nearest rival APHLC candidate Bikram Hanse in the election.
“Congratulations on your greatest victory @Tuliram Ronghang\. You have made it again. I believe you will make Karbi Anglong great again under your strong and bold leadership,” tweeted Horensing Bey, MP, Autonomous District Lok Sabha constituency.
“It’s a clean sweep for the @BJP4Assam in the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council by winning all 26 seats. Tremendous performance by the party under the guiding light of PM @narendramodi Ji and able leadership of @himantabiswa Ji,” tweeted Baijayant Jay Panda, BJP national vice-president and party in-charge of Assam.
The Congress, once a strong force in the council, and came to the power in the three consecutive elections in 2002, 2007 and 2012, drew a blank with most of its candidates finishing third behind independents.
“The Congress not only scored zero but failed to put up a contest. We won by a bigger margin of votes in most seats compared to the last time,” state water resource minister Pijush Hazarika told reporters in Tezpur in the sideline of a state-level DCs’ conference.
“Aam Admi Party (AAP), which has contested 10 seats, has made some inroads. But the party has essentially eaten into the votes of Congress.” Hazarika said.
“We did not expect much on the KAAC elections. It is not unusual for a ruling party in a state to win the local elections,” said Bhupen Kumar Bora, president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC).
The regional party Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), which had edged out the Congress in the 1989 polls by winning 22 seats, failed to stage a comeback.
Retired IAS officer JI Kathar-led the All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC) and was able to make inroads into the hills of Karbi Anglong.
The constituencies won by the BJP are: Prabhat Chandra Taro (Daur Amla), D Uphing Maslai (Amri), Avijit Kro (Chinthong), Headsing Rongphar (Socheng), Langbison Bey (Rongkhang), Tuliram Ronghang (Bithung Rengthama), Pawan Kumar (Kopili), Mangal Sing Timung (Hamren), Rina Terangpi (Amreng), Ajit Kumar Dey (Howraghat), Madhuram Lekthe (Langpher), Kangbura Killing (Phuloni), Bili Mohan Khaklari (Langhin), Raju Tisso (Korkanthi), Lunsing Teron (Mahamaya), Ritesh Enghi (Nomati), Kache Rongpipi (Socheng Dhenta), Johny Timung (Lumbajong), Tillotama Hasnu (Dhansiri), Amar Sing Tisso (Singhason), Surjya Rongphar (Borjan), Kadom Terangpi (Sarupathar), Madhurjya Dhekial Phukan (Bokajan), Shraban Telenga (Deopani), Pabitra Rongpi (Nilip and Richard Tokbi (Duar Bagori).
However, the complete results of the elections can be announced on Monday, said a senior official of the Assam State Election Commission (ASEC).