Congress is looking to make a comeback in Haflong, where Nandita Garlosa is contesting as its candidate. Garlosa, who was a cabinet minister in the present government, recently joined Congress. BJP has fielded Rupali Langthasa from Haflong after dropping Garlosa, though the party is yet to formally expel her. In 2016, BJP won the Bokajan, Howraghat, Diphu, and Baithalangso seats. After the delimitation exercise, Boithalangso ceased to exist, and new constituencies – Amri and Rongkhang – were created.
The All Party Hill Leaders Conference, an ally of Congress, is contesting two seats in Karbi Anglong. The party is fielding its president, Jones Ingti Kathar, from the Diphu seat, while Bikram Hanse is contesting from Amri. Congress is contesting the remaining seats. There is growing dissatisfaction in Karbi Anglong, along with a widening divide between the Karbi and non-Karbi communities. Karbis feel that they are being outnumbered by “settlers”, including Biharis and Bengalis. Recently, at least two people lost their lives in the district after clashes broke out between agitating locals and the police over alleged illegal encroachment on land protected under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Political analysts say that the recent incidents have caused discomfort for the ruling BJP. Tribal communities are reportedly upset over continued land encroachment, especially at a time when the Assam government has carried out eviction drives and claimed to have recovered over 1.5 lakh bighas of land.
