Guwahati: Adivasis in Assam are finalising plans of floating a party of their own on January 4, encouraged by the electoral success of parties that represent specific communities.
The idea of a party, however, took shape more from disenchantment with established parties, especially the Congress, than the lure of electoral gains.
Since the community plays a decisive role in several Assembly constituencies, particularly in the tea belts of Upper Assam and the north bank and in lower Assam, Adivasi leaders feel they can cause maximum electoral damage to established parties.
Reeling under decades of underdevelopment, the tea tribes have been up in arms demanding Scheduled Tribe status and gradually shifting their loyalty from the ruling Congress, which the com- munity had been stead- fastly backing since Independence.
With the Assam United Democratic Front, the Bodo People’s Front and the Autonomous State Demands Committee showing electoral might, the Adivasis, too, feel that they have a fair chance as a political power.
Barring any last minute changes, the party will be launched at a convention of the community’s various associations, convened by the Adivasi Council and supported by the All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA), at Biswanath Chariali in Sonitpur district.
Though the convention will deliberate on various issues, the formation of the party will dominate the proceedings.
The president of the All Adivasi Students Association of Assam, Justin Lakra, said the launch plans were in the final stage.
“A political party for the Adivasis had become imperative for securing the welfare of the community, used as a vote bank by political parties, mainly the Congress, which has always been trying to suppress our community. Senior community leaders have failed to deliver. The Tarun Gogoi government has not been able to do anything for Assam. We will rectify the situation. The party will be launched on January 4 and it will have a national character,” Lakra said.
The government, in fact, recently announced several welfare schemes for the community in an effort to appease them but that does not seem to have cut much ice.
David Horo, general secretary of the Adivasi students’ union, said: “We (Adivasis) need to unite and we need a party instead of leaders for deliverance. See what the AUDF or the Bodo parties have achieved with their MLAs. Like them, we also want to hold the key to governance to get a fair deal. Given our population, which would be around 80 lakh according to government estimates, we are in a position to play a critical political role in the state. In fact, we are seriously thinking of contesting Tezpur and Mangaldoi Lok Sabha seats. We know we can’t win in all seats but we have the vote to damage winning candidates,” Horo said.
The tribe’s resentment against the government was evident from Saturday’s 24-hour bandh called by the Birsa Commando Force, which is in ceasefire with the government since 2004, to protest the killing of three of its cadres in Udalguri on December 21.
The Adivasis are also unhappy with the manner in which the 2007 Beltola violence was handled.
Besides the Birsa Commando Force, Adivasi students’ union and the Adivasi Council, the Adivasi Mahila Samiti, Adivasi Sewa Samiti, Orang Mahasabha, Kuruk Mahasabha, Santhal Sabha and Munda Mahasabha are among the groups which are likely to join the convention.
“The proposal to float a political party enjoys our full backing and barring last-minute changes, it could materialise on January 4,” Horo said.
The Assam Tea Tribes Students Association (ATTSA) will also participate in the convention if invited, its president Prahlad Gowala said.
Source: The Telegraph
The idea of a party, however, took shape more from disenchantment with established parties, especially the Congress, than the lure of electoral gains.
Since the community plays a decisive role in several Assembly constituencies, particularly in the tea belts of Upper Assam and the north bank and in lower Assam, Adivasi leaders feel they can cause maximum electoral damage to established parties.
Reeling under decades of underdevelopment, the tea tribes have been up in arms demanding Scheduled Tribe status and gradually shifting their loyalty from the ruling Congress, which the com- munity had been stead- fastly backing since Independence.
With the Assam United Democratic Front, the Bodo People’s Front and the Autonomous State Demands Committee showing electoral might, the Adivasis, too, feel that they have a fair chance as a political power.
Barring any last minute changes, the party will be launched at a convention of the community’s various associations, convened by the Adivasi Council and supported by the All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA), at Biswanath Chariali in Sonitpur district.
Though the convention will deliberate on various issues, the formation of the party will dominate the proceedings.
The president of the All Adivasi Students Association of Assam, Justin Lakra, said the launch plans were in the final stage.
“A political party for the Adivasis had become imperative for securing the welfare of the community, used as a vote bank by political parties, mainly the Congress, which has always been trying to suppress our community. Senior community leaders have failed to deliver. The Tarun Gogoi government has not been able to do anything for Assam. We will rectify the situation. The party will be launched on January 4 and it will have a national character,” Lakra said.
The government, in fact, recently announced several welfare schemes for the community in an effort to appease them but that does not seem to have cut much ice.
David Horo, general secretary of the Adivasi students’ union, said: “We (Adivasis) need to unite and we need a party instead of leaders for deliverance. See what the AUDF or the Bodo parties have achieved with their MLAs. Like them, we also want to hold the key to governance to get a fair deal. Given our population, which would be around 80 lakh according to government estimates, we are in a position to play a critical political role in the state. In fact, we are seriously thinking of contesting Tezpur and Mangaldoi Lok Sabha seats. We know we can’t win in all seats but we have the vote to damage winning candidates,” Horo said.
The tribe’s resentment against the government was evident from Saturday’s 24-hour bandh called by the Birsa Commando Force, which is in ceasefire with the government since 2004, to protest the killing of three of its cadres in Udalguri on December 21.
The Adivasis are also unhappy with the manner in which the 2007 Beltola violence was handled.
Besides the Birsa Commando Force, Adivasi students’ union and the Adivasi Council, the Adivasi Mahila Samiti, Adivasi Sewa Samiti, Orang Mahasabha, Kuruk Mahasabha, Santhal Sabha and Munda Mahasabha are among the groups which are likely to join the convention.
“The proposal to float a political party enjoys our full backing and barring last-minute changes, it could materialise on January 4,” Horo said.
The Assam Tea Tribes Students Association (ATTSA) will also participate in the convention if invited, its president Prahlad Gowala said.
Source: The Telegraph
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