GUWAHATI: The Lok Sabha elections kicked off across India on April 11 and five constituencies of Assam also went to polls in the first phase. Now all eyes are set on the second phase to be held on April 18.
Autonomous District is one of the five constituencies which will go to polls in the second phase along with Karimganj, Silchar, Mangaldoi and Nowgong. The constituency seat is reserved for the scheduled tribes.
The Autonomous District Lok Sabha constituency is made up of two autonomous districts - Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao.
The seat will go to polls in the second phase of elections on April 18 and is set to witness a direct fight between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress.
There are a total of 7.95 lakh voters in the constituency, out of which 4.04 lakhs are male while 3.90 lakhs are female. Further, there are only six registered third gender voters in the district.
Additionally, 1,174 polling stations in total have been set up in the constituency for the elections. The Autonomous District seat consists of five assembly segments namely Haflong, Bokajan, Howraghat, Diphu and Baithalangso.
The BJP has fielded Horen Singh Bey this time while the Congress, which will be in a two-cornered contest, has fielded its sitting MP, Biren Singh Engti. Apart from the two prominent names, a total of six candidates are contesting the elections from the Autonomous district constituency.
Some of the other candidates include independent candidate Jones Ingti Kathar, Lienkhochon from National People’s Party, Holiram Terang from Autonomous State Demand Committee and Dewan Rongpi from National People’s Party.
The Congress party won the seat five times, out of which Biren Singh Engti has won from the seat consecutively for the last three Lok Sabha terms in 2004, 2009 and 2014. Apart from the Congress, independent candidate George Gilbert Swell and Jayanta Rongpi of Autonomous State Demand Committee have also won from the seat for three terms each.
In the 2014 general elections, Engti won the elections and defeated his closet rival Joy Ram Engleng by 24,000 votes. In the last elections, the voter turnout was 77.40 per cent.
The constituency is home to various tribal groups including Dimasa, Kuki, Karbi, Biate, Naga, Hmar and Rengma. The tribal population is expected to play a major role in these elections and political analysts say that it will be interesting to see which way their votes will swing this time.
Experts say that the political situation often becomes volatile in the Autonomous District constituency as certain armed factions are active in the area.
Quick Facts:
Total registered voters: 7,95,085
Total male voters: 4,04,528
Total male voters: 3,90,551
Total third gender voters: 6
Total polling stations: 1,174
Assembly segments: Haflong, Bokajan, Howraghat, Diphu and Baithalangso
