Page 46 - 31JAN2018E

Saffron dominates

Assam rural polls

The nationalist party recorded an impressive victory in the state’s Panchayat elections amid
uproar over the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 that grants citizenship to the religious minorities
from three neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, writes nava thakuria

or many, the ruling Bharatiya system at the village, intermediate and followed by the Congress (760), AGP
Janata Party (BJP) is losing the district levels, which was followed by (137), AIUDF (130), BPF (2), NCP (1) and
poll-battles as more and more the Congress, All India United Demo- independent candidates (173). In GP
important States have gone cratic Front (AIUDF), AGP that fought members, the BJP gained 9,094 seats,
F under the control of Congress. Panchayat polls alone and other politi- followed by the Congress (7,292), AGP
Soon after the outcome of recently cal parties. (1,689), AIUDF (1,024), BPF (54), CPM (33),
concluded Assembly polls in cen- Elections were held in 26 districts of CPI (3), TMC (5), CPI-ML (4), NCP (3) and
tral provinces surfaced the political Assam, where 78,571 candidates were independent candidates (2,717).
observes started making comments in the fray for altogether 26,808 seats It bagged 1,025 AP member seats, fol-
that the saffron party has started losing under 21,990 Panchayat wards. Inspir-
the game on the eve of general elec- ing over 80 was recorded the polling
tions scheduled for early next year. percentage in the two-phase polls on
However, the nationalist party 5 and 9 December 2018. Counting of
recorded an impressive victory in ballots took place on 12 December with
Assam Panchayat elections overcom- strict security arrangements and under
ing almost an uproarious situation the CCTV surveillance.
because of Centre’s initiative to grant The State has 21 Zilla Parishads
citizenship to the religious minorities (district Panchayat), 185 Anchalik Pan-
from three neighbouring countries chayats (intermediate Panchayat) and
including Bangladesh. As many as 70 2201 Gaon Panchayats (village Pan-
State bodies were constantly raising chayat). Electorate were engaged at the
voices against the Citizenship Amend- task for electing 21 Zilla Parishad presi-
ment Bill 2016 in Assam and they even dents & 420 ZP members, 185 Anchalik
urged the electorate to defeat the BJP in Panchayat presidents & 2201 AP mem-
the rural polls. bers, 2201 Gaon Panchayat presidents &
But the electorate perhaps did not GP 24222 members.
consider the appeal as worthy and The BJP, after a lengthy process
hence put the saffron party at the top of involving the counting of ballots,
their preferred list of local representa- emerged victorious wining 11,325 out of
tives. The party, which came to power in 26,784 seats, where the Congress could
Dispur with their prime allies namely win 8,970 posts followed by AGP (1,963
Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodo- posts), AIUDF (1,319 posts) etc. 3,048
land People’s Front (BPF) in the State independent candidates also succeed-
Legislative Assembly polls 2016, main- ed in the poll-battle.
tained its winning spree. The party won 994 GP presidents
According to the State election
authority, the BJP gained over 40 % • Litmus test The election was a litmus test for
seats in the three-tier Panchayatiraj the BJP ahead of Lok Sabha polls in Assam

Tehelka / 31 january 2019 46 www.Tehelka.com