The near-clean sweep of the January 8 elections to a tribal council has underlined the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) acceptability among Christians, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has implied.
The Chief Minister said the significance of the BJP’s victory in the North Cachar Hills Autonomous District Council (NCHAC) stood out because about 35% of the population in the region it administers are Christians.
The 28-member council lords over Dima Hasao, one of three hill districts of Assam. The BJP won 25 council constituencies, six of them uncontested, while three seats went to independent candidates.
Congress, once a dominant force, drew a blank. The grand old party had managed to win two seats in the last election five years ago.
The “resounding mandate” given by the people to the BJP in the NCHAC elections “is a reassertion of the immense faith they have on the developmental agenda” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr. Sarma said on social media platforms late Friday (January 12) night.
“This victory stands out for another reason – nearly 35% of the people in this beautiful region belong to the Christian community. Their blessings manifest the success of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas aur Sabka Prayas,” he wrote.
Apart from non-tribal groups such as Bengali, Nepali, and Assamese, 13 tribal groups inhabit the Dima Hasao district, many of whom follow various denominations of Christianity. These tribes in descending order of population include the Dimasa, Kuki, Zeme, Hmar, Karbi, Khelma, Hrangkhol, and Biate.
The NCHAC is the third tribal council under the Sixth Schedule in Assam where the BJP rules on its own or in alliance with regional parties. The other two are the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and the Bodoland Territorial Council.
