Citizenship, Infrastructure, and Unemployment Take Center Stage
The upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Assam's Barak Valley, scheduled for April 26th, will see 32 candidates vying for the two constituencies of Silchar (SC) and Karimganj. Key issues dominating the campaign include citizenship, unemployment, poor infrastructure, and lack of connectivity with the rest of the country.
With a significant population of Hindu Bengalis displaced from Bangladesh, citizenship has become a major concern in the valley. The BJP government's Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has been met with mixed reactions, with some welcoming it as a solution and others criticizing its implementation.
The lack of proper infrastructure and connectivity with the rest of Assam and the country has been a long-standing issue in Barak Valley. The opposition parties criticize the slow progress of the East-West Corridor, while the BJP claims significant development in infrastructure during their tenure.
Unemployment remains a major concern, particularly with the closure of the Cachar Paper Mills leading to job losses. Candidates are highlighting the need for new industries and employment opportunities to address this issue.
In Silchar, the main contenders are BJP's Parimal Suklabaidya, Congress's Surya Kanta Sarkar, and AITC's Radheyshyam Biswas. In Karimganj, the fight is between BJP's Kripanath Malla, Congress's Hafiz Ahmed Rashid Choudhury, and AIUDF's Sahabul Islam Choudhury.
The delimitation exercise has added the Scheduled Caste (SC) status of Karimganj to Silchar, impacting the electoral dynamics. Both constituencies have a mixed population, with Silchar having a majority Hindu electorate and Karimganj having a predominantly minority electorate.
The upcoming elections will be crucial in determining the future of Barak Valley, with the candidates' promises and the voters' choices shaping the region's development and addressing its pressing concerns.