Ex-militants to contest Lok Sabha polls in Northeast India

GUWAHATI: In Northeast India, militants have often used elections to make their presence felt –– be it for violent activities or as an occasion to join the mainstream. There are instances when those spreading insurgency movements have contested polls and captured power like the Mizo National Front (MNF) in Mizoram, the erstwhile Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) in Bodoland in Assam.

Lok Sabha polls 2014 will see at least two such former militants seeking votes from people. Once a dreaded ULFA militant leader, Heera Sarania, has announced his candidature for the Kokrajhar Lok Sabha seat.

The pro-talks faction of the ULFA, which is holding peace parleys with the government of India, has suspended Sarania from the primary membership of the organisation besides relieving him of all his responsibilities in the organisation. Heera will contest polls under his real name, Naba Kumar Sarania.

Ulfa’s constitution does not allow any of its members to participate in polls. Congress’ ally, the Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF), has fielded Sansuma Khungur Bwiswmuthiary , who is seeking reelection from the Kokrajhar seat.

Sarania, who was commander of Ulfa’s lethal battalion 709 is the candidate of Obodo Suraksha Samiti, a non-Bodo organisation. Former National Security Guards chief and Governor of Meghalaya, RS Mooshary, joined the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) and will contest the Kokrajhar Lok Sabha seat.