Guwahati, January 4 (NNN): A new politcal party has been floated by the Adivasi community in Assam with a sole agenda of demanding the scheduled tribe (ST) status for the Adivasis in Assam.
Assembly elections in Assam are likely in to be held in the month of April-May along with Kerala, Puduchery, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The new political party christened as Assam Mukti Morcha (AMM) is reportedly backed by the Jarkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
According to the reports, the Assam Mukti Morcha (AMM) has taken a decision to field 51 candidates. Assam has 126 assembly seats altogether. The AMM may find its takers in the tea growing belts of eastern, central, southern and north-western Assam. The Adivasis are also known as ‘tea tribe’ who were brought by British planters from present-day Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal
150 years ago. They number more than 70 lakh today and command a vote share of 18%. The Adivasis have traditionally been the Congress’ largest en block voters after the Muslims (35% vote share). In the past 15 years, the Asom Gana Parishad and the BJP have made considerable inroads.
“We have taken a long time to realize none of these parties are serious enough about our hopes and aspirations,” said AMM secretary Nirmal Bagwar. “This is the reason why we have decided to float our own party to chart our own course. Our main objective is ST status for the Adivasis here.” Bagwar added that JMM mentored his party. “JMM chief Shibu Shoren has had several meetings with us, and he will be here in February to work out our poll strategy.” Assam’s Adivasis say they have a right to ST status since “we did not come here by choice”. Indigenous communities, however, oppose their demand terming them as “settlers”.
According to political analysts, it is too early to say if AMM will have the kind of electoral impact as the Muslim-heavy All India United
Democratic Front led by perfume baron Badruddin Ajmal. The minority party was born in 2005 out of disenchantment with the Congress, proving to be a worry for the major parties.
Assembly elections in Assam are likely in to be held in the month of April-May along with Kerala, Puduchery, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The new political party christened as Assam Mukti Morcha (AMM) is reportedly backed by the Jarkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
According to the reports, the Assam Mukti Morcha (AMM) has taken a decision to field 51 candidates. Assam has 126 assembly seats altogether. The AMM may find its takers in the tea growing belts of eastern, central, southern and north-western Assam. The Adivasis are also known as ‘tea tribe’ who were brought by British planters from present-day Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal
150 years ago. They number more than 70 lakh today and command a vote share of 18%. The Adivasis have traditionally been the Congress’ largest en block voters after the Muslims (35% vote share). In the past 15 years, the Asom Gana Parishad and the BJP have made considerable inroads.
“We have taken a long time to realize none of these parties are serious enough about our hopes and aspirations,” said AMM secretary Nirmal Bagwar. “This is the reason why we have decided to float our own party to chart our own course. Our main objective is ST status for the Adivasis here.” Bagwar added that JMM mentored his party. “JMM chief Shibu Shoren has had several meetings with us, and he will be here in February to work out our poll strategy.” Assam’s Adivasis say they have a right to ST status since “we did not come here by choice”. Indigenous communities, however, oppose their demand terming them as “settlers”.
According to political analysts, it is too early to say if AMM will have the kind of electoral impact as the Muslim-heavy All India United
Democratic Front led by perfume baron Badruddin Ajmal. The minority party was born in 2005 out of disenchantment with the Congress, proving to be a worry for the major parties.
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