Congress Loses in the Cities

Congress Loses in the Cities OUT OF THE 126 seats in the Assam Vidhan Sabha elections were held for 124; in the remaining two seats of the Mizo Hills elections could not be held owing to the disturbed conditions there. Fourteen of the 124 seats represent the four Hills Districts of Assam. The APHLC and the Congress contested these seats on the Hills State issue. The former captured all the 9 seats from the Khasi-Jayantia and Garo Hills Districts, while the Congress captured the remaining five seats, four from the Mikir and North Cachar Hills and one (unopposed) from the Mizo Hills. The results thus indicate that the Mikir and North Cachar Hills have rejected the Hills State demand sponsored by the APHLC. The opinion in the Mizo Hills is not clear as elections could not be held there. However, the defeat of Emon Singh Sangma, a member of the Assam Cabinet, indicates the strong feeling of the Garos in favour of a Hill State. The Shillong seat was also captured by the APHLC against a non-tribal candidate who campaigned on the issue of safe-guarding the interests of the non-tribals in the proposed Hills State. The verdict of the electorate may have some impact on the plan for reorganisation of Assam to form a separate Hills State.