This week, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) declared its candidates for three Lok Sabha seats in the northeastern state of Assam — Guwahati, Dibrugarh, and Sonitpur. Bhaben Choudhury, the party’s state unit president, will be contesting for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from the Guwahati seat. The state sends a total of 14 members to the Lok Sabha.
This announcement comes at a time when the Congress, the primary party in the Opposition bloc — United Opposition Forum, is striving to bring all 15 constituents on board regarding seat-sharing. The goal is to ensure a united front against the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. Among the 15 constituents, strains in relations between the TMC and Congress have already surfaced.
With TMC supremo and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee declaring her intentions to contest all the 42 seats in her state, it is unlikely that the dissatisfied Congress will now cede any seat in Assam. The TMC earlier demanded five seats, but the Congress was ready to cede one seat, most probably from the Barak Valley, which is covered under two Lok Sabha constituencies. In the last Lok Sabha elections, both were won by the BJP.
Following TMC's lead, AAP has now announced its seat allocation without consulting the United Opposition Forum (UOF), a part of the national Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A). These developments have dealt two consecutive blows to the Opposition bloc just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. AAP maintains its affiliation with the Opposition bloc in the state, expressing hope that the Congress will accept its candidates for the three Lok Sabha seats.
However, it appears to be a strategic move by AAP as it pressures the Congress. Yet, given that both AAP and TMC are relatively weak forces in the northeastern state, the acceptance of their demands for seats by the Congress seems unlikely. In the 2022 Guwahati Municipal Corporation elections, AAP won a seat from a Muslim-majority ward and secured 3% fewer votes than Congress, which failed to secure any seats.
The reality is that both TMC and AAP are organisationally weak, and their unwarranted seat demands are causing disintegration within the INDIA bloc. While AAP blames Congress for delaying talks, this doesn't justify the premature announcement of seats, especially if the intention is to strengthen the Opposition bloc against the BJP-led NDA in the northeastern state.
In a separate development, this week, the Centre scrapped the Free Movement Regime (FMR) agreement with Myanmar. This agreement has allowed people living on the other side of the border to travel up to 16 km into the other country without any visa. While this decision has been welcomed by the Meiteis of Manipur, including Chief Minister Biren Singh, it has faced opposition from various communities, such as the Kuki-Zomis, Mizos, and Nagas, in the region. Although security concerns played a crucial role in the decision to scrap FMR, the Centre should not ignore the concerns of these communities.
These communities have relatives living on the other side of the border, which was demarcated by British colonialists without the approval of the affected people. With ethnic polarisation remaining strong in Manipur, the Centre's decision is likely to cause more discontent among the Kuki-Zomis. In the previous column of Northeast Notes, this writer has highlighted how Nagas were divided by this artificial border but they have never recognised this.
This week a nine-member Kuki-Zomi delegation met with officials led by AK Mishra, advisor to the Ministry of Home Affairs on Northeast Affairs. One of the main issues discussed at the meeting was the scrapping of FMR by the Centre.
While illegal immigration and drug trade across the border are legitimate concerns, the Centre should review its decision to fully fence the borders with Myanmar. Partial fencing could be an option to allow tribals to meet their relatives on the other side while formalising trade entry points with enhanced security infrastructure.
In another development, protests erupted in Eastern Nagaland, demanding a separate Frontier Naga Territory and a final solution to their issue. The protests were led by the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO).
Last year, there were reports that the Centre had promised an autonomous council for the people living in the eastern part of the state, which they alleged has been the most backward region for lack of development.
The present discontent is due to the delay in the implementation of the promised autonomous council for the region. The Centre shouldn’t delay its decision now. The eastern part of the state is indeed a backward region and the aspirations of the people residing there have to be addressed properly. If the Centre has promised an autonomous council, it should rather speed up the process and grant it to the people of the region. The eastern part of the state consists of six districts and is resided by seven Naga tribes. This region sends 20 legislators to the 60-seat state assembly.
The author is a political commentator.
[Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs, and views expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this website are personal and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs, and views of ABP News Network Pvt Ltd.]
Unjust Demand For Seats Is Breaking I.N.D.I.A Bloc In Assam Ahead Of Lok Sabha Polls 2024
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1
10.02.2024
This week, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) declared its candidates for three Lok Sabha seats in the northeastern state of Assam — Guwahati, Dibrugarh, and Sonitpur. Bhaben Choudhury, the party’s state unit president, will be contesting for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from the Guwahati seat. The state sends a total of 14 members to the Lok Sabha.
This announcement comes at a time when the Congress, the primary party in the Opposition bloc — United Opposition Forum, is striving to bring all 15 constituents on board regarding seat-sharing. The goal is to ensure a united front against the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. Among the 15 constituents, strains in relations between the TMC and Congress have already surfaced.
With TMC supremo and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee declaring her intentions to contest all the 42 seats in her state, it is unlikely that the dissatisfied Congress will now cede any seat in Assam. The TMC earlier demanded five seats, but the Congress was ready to cede one seat, most probably from the Barak Valley, which is covered under two Lok Sabha constituencies. In the last Lok Sabha elections, both were won by the BJP.
Following TMC's lead, AAP has now announced its seat allocation without consulting the United Opposition Forum (UOF), a part of the national Indian National........
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