Guwahati: Sixty-year-old Basab Kuzur is at crossroads, literally. The sexagenarian is one among those Adivasis who have never voted for any other party other than the Congress.
But, the changed political scenario after the Beltola violence has given rise to a precarious situation for people like Kuzur who don't know whether to stick to Congress or support National People's Party (NPP) exploiting the sentiments of Adivasis. Formed out of "bruised sentiments" after the violence at Beltola, NPP is set to exploit the sense of "being left out" among Adivasis throwing a big challenge to other political parties banking on the community's vote bank.
The demand for Scheduled Tribe status is high on NPP's agenda. And, for someone like Kuzur who has been voting for Congress, NPP has emerged as a party promising to champion the cause of the community. For long, Adivasis have been the traditional vote-bank of Congress. Though Asom Gana Parishad managed to set up base within the community, especially during its rule in the 1980s and 1990s, it is still the Congress which commands the votes in its favour, said political observers.
Independent observers within the Adivasis also conceded that there was confusion on whether to go with traditional political parties or to support the newly formed political outfit (NPP). "Most of the Adivasis have been supporting the Congress, but now they have NPP. The 2007 mayhem will also work in favour of the outfit. The NPP is certainly going to make some impact," said Ananta Bagh, an Adivasi.
On the other hand, the Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) has made inroads into the Adivasi society by fielding Lakhmi Orang from Tezpur constituency. Lakshmi became a "symbol of exploitation" among the Adivasis after she was stripped by miscreants during the November 2007 protest rally in Guwahati. Lakshmi said she decided to contest the election as political parties have failed to fulfil the aspirations of Adivasis.
What is more worrying for political parties is that the NPP is thinking to to support Lakshmi in the election. "We are thinking to support Lakshmi. The decision is still at a nascent stage. A decision will be taken during our our party meeting on March 8," said NPP secretary A S Guria. He added that the party would have no truck with Congress and AGP.
AUDF, however, was quick to welcome NPP's willingness to support Lakshmi. "We will be glad if NPP supports our candidate in Tezpur constituency," said AUDF working president Hafiz Rashid Choudhury.
Source: The Times Of India
But, the changed political scenario after the Beltola violence has given rise to a precarious situation for people like Kuzur who don't know whether to stick to Congress or support National People's Party (NPP) exploiting the sentiments of Adivasis. Formed out of "bruised sentiments" after the violence at Beltola, NPP is set to exploit the sense of "being left out" among Adivasis throwing a big challenge to other political parties banking on the community's vote bank.
The demand for Scheduled Tribe status is high on NPP's agenda. And, for someone like Kuzur who has been voting for Congress, NPP has emerged as a party promising to champion the cause of the community. For long, Adivasis have been the traditional vote-bank of Congress. Though Asom Gana Parishad managed to set up base within the community, especially during its rule in the 1980s and 1990s, it is still the Congress which commands the votes in its favour, said political observers.
Independent observers within the Adivasis also conceded that there was confusion on whether to go with traditional political parties or to support the newly formed political outfit (NPP). "Most of the Adivasis have been supporting the Congress, but now they have NPP. The 2007 mayhem will also work in favour of the outfit. The NPP is certainly going to make some impact," said Ananta Bagh, an Adivasi.
On the other hand, the Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) has made inroads into the Adivasi society by fielding Lakhmi Orang from Tezpur constituency. Lakshmi became a "symbol of exploitation" among the Adivasis after she was stripped by miscreants during the November 2007 protest rally in Guwahati. Lakshmi said she decided to contest the election as political parties have failed to fulfil the aspirations of Adivasis.
What is more worrying for political parties is that the NPP is thinking to to support Lakshmi in the election. "We are thinking to support Lakshmi. The decision is still at a nascent stage. A decision will be taken during our our party meeting on March 8," said NPP secretary A S Guria. He added that the party would have no truck with Congress and AGP.
AUDF, however, was quick to welcome NPP's willingness to support Lakshmi. "We will be glad if NPP supports our candidate in Tezpur constituency," said AUDF working president Hafiz Rashid Choudhury.
Source: The Times Of India
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