Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 2: Assam's Barak valley, stirred by NRC, awaits their unusual chance to elect an MP

As Indian Express reports, the Barak Valley, is experiencing a ne'er earlier witnessed enthusiasm for the Lok Sabha Polls 2024. 

But why? 

Barak Valley successful Assam is the nuanced determination bordering Bangladesh, and often astatine the centre of Bangali infiltration statement for Assam. 

Understanding Barak Valley

The Karimganj Lok Sabha constituency covers 2 districts of Assam’s mostly Bengali-speaking Barak Valley – Karimganj and Hailakandi. The 2011 Census placed the Muslim colonisation of Karimganj and Hailakandi astatine 56.36% and 60.31%, respectively.

Nestled alongside the Bangladesh border, Karimganj, particularly the Barak Valley region, has been agelong shrouded successful citizenship ambiguities. The enduring specter of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) has formed a shadiness implicit its populace, branded arsenic "illegal" owed to their Bengali connection and Muslim identity.

After the drastic changes successful Barak Valley pursuing past year’s delimitation exercise, Karimganj is nary longer a Scheduled Caste-reserved seat. Instead, Silchar, the Barak Valley’s different Lok Sabha seat, is reserved now.

Polling for Karimganj

A staggering full of 24 candidates are vying for the Karimganj seat, with salient contenders including the incumbent BJP MP Kripanath Mallah, erstwhile Assam Bar Council president Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Choudhury representing the Congress, and businessman Sahabul Islam Choudhury from the AIUDF. 

Among the remaining candidates, 18 are contesting independently, portion the remaining 3 correspond smaller governmental parties.

BJP treads diplomatic waters successful Karimganj

With an oculus connected retaining Karimganj, Assam ruling enactment BJP recognizes the value of securing Muslim votes successful summation to rallying Hindu support. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's predominant visits to the constituency wrong a choky timeframe, 3 times successful a span of 20 days, person intelligibly underscored the party's concerted efforts to cultivate a divers elector base.

Notably astatine the Lok Sabha election rallies successful Karimganj, CM Sarma stays wide of mentioning the NRC, a factors that Assam banks connected successful voting for BJP. 

CM Sarma has besides launched campaigns to wide “infiltrators" from authorities onshore and against kid marriages, linking some openly to the Muslim community.

Karimganj results successful 2019 Lok Sabha Polls

In 2019, the BJP’s Mallah had won Karimganj with a 44.62% ballot share, with the AIUDF 2nd with 41% of the votes. The Congress had got conscionable 11.36% of the votes.

In 2014, the AIUDF had won with 40.91% of the votes, the BJP got 29.4%, and the Congress 25.54%.

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Published: 25 Apr 2024, 06:14 AM IST