Assam assembly polls: All major players in the reckoning in Barak valley

GUWAHATI: The three districts in Assam's Barak valley-Cachar, Sribhumi and Hailakandi-are home to Bengali-speaking, primarily Muslim, voters and the 13 assembly constituencies here are set to see multi-cornered fights.

Following the 2023 delimitation exercise in the state, the number of assembly seats in the valley was reduced to 13 from 15. The BJP, its ally Asom Gana Parishad, Congress, and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) will be the major players here this election. Even the Trinamool Congress has put up candidates.

The exercise altered the composition of seats in constituencies including Hailakandi, Algapur-Kathichera and Katighora. Muslims voters had sizeable representation in these seats, but that too changed after delimitation. Barak valley shares a border with Bangladesh and voters in this southern region of Assam have often complained of neglect from the government.


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School recruitment drive
The BJP has promised a special recruitment drive for Bengali and Hindi medium schools, besides updating Katigorah into a co-district and upgrading the Silchar-Dholai-Hailakandi road into a National Highway. The party's manifesto also mentions a full-fledged Assam Secretariat branch in Silchar, besides a satellite AIIMS centre in Sribhumi, and speeding up the Green Field Airport at Doloo.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP pulled a major upset by winning the Karimganj Lok Sabha seat. The constituency accounts for four assembly seats, where the indigenous Kiran Sheikh community has substantial votes. Fishing is the profession of most members of this community.

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In 2021, the BJP won six seats in the Barak valley. The AIUDF and the Congress, who were then in alliance, together wrested 9 seats.

'Distinct voting pattern'
Political analysts felt that the valley has a distinct voting pattern. "While the AIUDF is still the dominant force here, the BJP's hope of winning 9-11 seats in the valley looks unrealistic," said political analyst Haider Hussain.