Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass and hills area development minister Som Ranghang on Friday addressed a party’s workers meeting in Dima Hasao district headquarters Haflong, on the eve of the announcement of NC Hills Autonomous Council election.
Sonowal asked all sections of society to join hands in executing the party’s development mission in the two hill districts of Assam, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, and assured all possible support from Dispur.
“Communal harmony is the most important issue at this moment and that can expedite development in Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong,” he added.
The three leaders reached Haflong at 11.30am and inaugurated the district unit BJP office. Later they addressed a gathering of nearly 3,000 party workers at the Town Committee field.
Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, known to be behind the formation of the BJP council in Haflong, had to cancel his visit at the eleventh hour.
“After decade-long misrule Dima Hasao district saw a ray of development in the hands of the BJP. Our target is to bring the BJP back to power in the council in upcoming NC Hills Autonomous Council elections with maximum majority,” Dass said.
NC Hills autonomous council completed its five-year tenure in June 2018 and recently the Election Commission announced that election to the 28 seats of the autonomous council will be held in January next year.
At present, the council has 18 BJP, six AGP and one Congress member. Maibong (east) elected member Deba Hojai died in 2016. Two BJP members, Niranjan Hojai and Mihir Gorlosa, are in judicial custody.
Sonowal and the other party leaders later took part in a conclave where election strategy was discussed. “We were asked to chalk out sites for big rallies where state-level campaigners will take part. The party leadership assured all possible support to bring the BJP back to power in the council,” said a council member after the sitting.
There has also been dissidence among the BJP leadership over the distribution of tickets to former DHD (J) rebels.
