Lok Sabha Election 2019, Assam profile: Dibrugarh, Gauhati, Tezpur key seats in state with BJP seeking to improve tally

The most populated state in the North East, Assam, which has 14 Lok Sabha seats, goes to poll in three phases. While five constituencies each go to polls on 11 and 18 April, the remaining four constituencies will be voting on 23 April. Assam, which became the BJP’s gateway to North East after the saffron party came to power for the very first time in 2016, is going to polls in the aftermath of the state-wide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. While the BJP-led Centre withdrew tabling the Bill in the face of active resistance from the local population, the issue is expected to dominate the political discourse in the state. Another issue which is likely to dominate the polls is the National Register of Citizens of India (NRC) drive undertaken by the government to determine the citizens of Assam. With lakhs of names missing from the list, the whole process is likely to dominate the elections in Assam. This election, the fight is expected to be between the Congress and the ruling BJP, which won an unprecedented seven seats in the last Lok Sabha elections. The AIUDF led by perfume baron Badruddin Ajmal and the Asom Gana Parishad, which is expected to be in alliance with the BJP, are the other players. Interestingly, Muslim voters play a crucial role in deciding the political fate of candidates in at least 10 Lok Sabha seats in Assam. Here are the profiles of the 14 constituencies in Assam: 1. Karimganj Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency number: 1 Total electors: 11,65,997 (2014 estimates) Male electors: 6,15,198 Female electors: 5,50,799 Assembly Constituencies: Ratabari (SC), Patharkandi, Karimganj North, Karimganj South, Badarpur, Hailakandi, Katlicherra, Algapur Reserved: Yes. For Scheduled Castes Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: AIUDF’s Radheshyam Biswas is the MP from Karimganj since 2014. In 2004 and 2009 elections, Lalit Mohan Suklabaidya of the Congress won the seat. In 1998 and 1999, Nepal Chandra Das held the seat while representing the Congress party. Demographics: Part of the Barak Valley, Karimganj is notably a Muslim-dominated constituency. The community forms over 50 percent of the electorate. The AIUDF, a Muslim dominated party, has made inroads into this constituency in recent years. 2. Silchar Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency number: 2 Total electors: 10,60,175 (2014 estimates) [caption id=“attachment_6301811” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Muslims voters play a significant role during elections in this constituency as they constitute at least 35 percent of the total population. Image courtesy PP Yoonus/Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Male electors: 5,54,540 Female electors: 5,05,635 Assembly Constituencies: Silchar, Sonai, Dholai (SC), Udharbond, Lakhipur, Barkhola, Katigorah Reserved: No Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: Former Union minister Santosh Mohan Dev represented the constituency between 1999 and 2009. In 2009 elections, Kabindra Purkayastha of the BJP won the seat. In the 2014 polls, Congress’ leader Sushmita Dev won the seat defeating Purkayastha. Demographics: Muslims voters play a significant role during elections in this constituency as they constitute at least 35 percent of the total population. Bengali Hindu voters, most of whom are descendants of refugees from Bangladesh, are also a significant proportion of the population. 3. Autonomous District Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency number: 3 Total electors: 7,01,890 (2014 estimates) Male electors: 3,58,880 Female electors: 3,43,010 Assembly Constituencies: Haflong (ST), Bokajan (ST), Howraghat (ST), Diphu (ST), Baithalangso (ST) Reserved: Yes. For Scheduled Tribes Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: Jayanta Rongpi of the CPM-ML won the seat in 1999 elections. Since 2004, the seat is being held by Biren Singh Engti of the Congress party. Demographics: The constituency comprises two tribal autonomous districts: Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong. These two autonomous territories are home to several indigenous tribes in Assam like Karbi, Dimasa, Kuki, Biate etc. 4. Dhubri Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency number: 4 Total electors: 15,52,554 (2014 estimates) Male electors: 7,98,124 Female electors: 7,54,430 Assembly Constituencies: Mankachar, Salmara South, Dhubri, Gauripur, Golakganj, Bilasipara West, Bilasipara East, Goalpara East, Goalpara West, Jaleswar Reserved: No Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: While Abdul Hamid was elected on a Congress ticket in 1999, Anwar Hussain won the seat in the 2004 polls. Since 2009, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal has been representing the constituency. Demographics: Muslims, largely immigrants from Bangladesh, form nearly 70 percent of the electorate in this constituency. The immense Muslim influence can be gauged by the fact that all MPs elected from this constituency since 1952 have been Muslims. The constituency is largely agrarian and rural in nature. 5. Kokrajhar Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency number: 5 Total electors: 15,05,476 (2014 estimates) Male electors: 7,76,071 Female electors: 7,29,405 Assembly Constituencies: Gossaigaon, Kokrajhar East (ST), Kokrajhar West (ST), Sidli (ST), Bijni, Sorbhog, Bhabanipur, Tamulpur, Barama (ST) and Chapaguri (ST) Reserved: Yes. For Scheduled Tribes Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: Sansuma Khunggur Bwiswmuthiary, an Independent candidate until 2009 and later as a candidate of the Bodoland’s People’s Front, represented the constituency between 1998 and 2014. In the 2014 elections, another Independent candidate Naba Kumar Sarania won the seat. Demographics: The seat is dominated by the indigenous Bodo community who constitute little less than half of the 15 lakh voters. Minorities, mainly Muslims, are nearly four lakh voters. SCs like Koch Rajbanshis are also found in significant numbers. 6. Barpeta Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency number: 6 Total electors: 14,30,175 (2014 estimates) Male electors: 7,55,559 Female electors: 6,74,616 Assembly Constituencies: Bongaigaon, Abhayapuri North, Abhayapuri South (SC), Patacharkuchi, Barpeta, Jania, Baghbar, Sarukhetri, Chenga, Dharmapur Reserved: No Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: Congress party’s AF Golam Osmani won the seat in 1999 and 2004 Lok Sabha elections. Ismail Hussain of the Congress won the seat in 2009 before losing to Sirajuddin Ajmal in the 2014 elections. Demographics: Like Dhubri, Barpeta is another Muslim majority constituency in Assam, where the community accounts for nearly 3/5th of the electorate. Moreover, most of the Muslims found in this constituency are Bengali-speaking immigrants. 7. Gauhati Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency number: 7 Total electors: 19,22,270 (2014 estimates) [caption id=“attachment_6301831” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] This constituency is partially urban, owing to the presence of Assam’s most important hub Guwahati. Image courtesy Kunal Dalui/Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Male electors: 9,88,067 Female electors: 9,34,203 Assembly Constituencies: Dudhnai (ST), Boko (SC), Chaygaon, Palasbari, Jalukbari, Dispur, Guwahati East, Guwahati West, Hajo, Barkhetry Reserved: No Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: Except for 2004 elections, when Kirip Chaliha of the Congress won, this constituency has been represented by veteran BJP leader Bijoya Chakravarty since 1999. Demographics: This constituency is partially urban, owing to the presence of Assam’s most important hub Guwahati. The SCs and STs constitute one-fifth of the total electorate. Over 4 lakh Muslims (both immigrants as well as of Assamese-origin) voters are also found in this constituency. 8. Mangaldoi Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency number: 8 Total electors: 15,15,676 (2014 estimates) Male electors: 7,91,539 Female electors: 7,24,137 Assembly Constituencies: Kamalpur, Rangiya, Nalbari, Paneri, Kalaigaon, Sipajhar, Mangaldoi (SC), Dalgaon, Udalguri (ST), Majbat Reserved: No Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: Ramen Deka of BJP has been the sitting MP since 2009. Before him, Narayan Chandra Borkataky of the BJP represented the constituency. In 1999 elections, Madhab Rajbhangshi of the Congress won the seat. Demographics: Bodo voters are in sizeable numbers in the constituency. Mangaldoi also has over 4 lakh Muslim voters, half of whom are of Assamese origin. Mangaldoi Assembly segment, which comes under this constituency, has a special place in Assam’s political history, as a bye-election here in 1979, exposed the irregularities in the electoral rolls. This incident is considered the starting point of the six-year-long Assam agitation. 9. Tezpur Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency number: 9 Total electors: 12,59,568 (2014 estimates) Male electors: 6,54,866 Female electors: 6,04,702 Assembly Constituencies: Dhekiajuli, Barchalla, Tezpur, Rangapara, Sootea, Biswanath, Behali,Gohpur, Bihpuria Reserved: No Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: Ram Prasad Sarmah of the BJP is the sitting MP from Tezpur. In the 2009 elections, Joseph Toppo of the AGP won the seat while Moni Kumar Subah of the Congress scored an electoral hat trick between 1998 and 2004. Demographics: The Gorkha population are found in sizeable numbers in this constituency. In fact, the constituency has elected Gorkha MPs five times in the last 25 years, including the incumbent. The constituency is largely rural, with just 9 percent of the population living in urban areas, as per one report . Tea workers are also a notable vote bank in this constituency. 10. Nagaon Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency number: 10 Total electors: 15,23,881 (2014 estimates) Male electors: 7,92,424 Female electors: 7,31,457 Assembly Constituencies: Jagiroad (SC), Marigaon, Laharighat, Raha (SC), Nowgong, Barhampur, Jamunamukh, Hojai, Lumding Reserved: No Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: Union Minister Rajen Gohain is the sitting MP from Nowgong since 1999. Demographics: Nagaon, which is considered the hub of vegetable production in Assam, is a BJP citadel. With 35 percent Muslim electorate, the party has reportedly been able to retain the seat due to split in Muslim votes in previous elections. 11. Kaliabor Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency number: 11 Total electors: 14,57,865 (2014 estimates) Male electors: 7,52,785 Female electors: 7,05,080 Assembly Constituencies: Golaghat, Dergaon (SC), Bokakhat, Dhing, Batadroba, Rupohihat, Samaguri, Kaliabor, Sarupathar, Khumtai Reserved: No Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: A Congress party stronghold, former chief minister Tarun Gogoi, his son Gaurav, and brother Dip Gogoi have been elected from this constituency since 1998. Demographics: Muslims are the single biggest dominating factor in Kaliabhor Lok Sabha constituency. With over 30 percent of the electorate being Muslim, there was even speculations of a possible alliance with AIUDF – the Muslim-dominant party in Assam. 12. Jorhat Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency number: 12 Total electors: 1,234,448 (2014 estimates) Male electors: 6,34,236 Female electors: 6,00,212 Assembly Constituencies: Jorhat, Titabar, Mariani, Teok, Amguri, Nazira, Mahmara, Sonari, Thowra, Sibsagar Reserved: No Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: Late Congress leader Bijoy Krishna Handique was the longest serving MP from Jorhat. He represented the Jorhat in the Lok Sabha from 1991 to 2014, when he was defeated by BJP’s Kamakhaya Prasad Tasa. Demographics: Unlike in other parts of Assam, Muslims are not a significant factor in Jorhat. Instead, tea workers, who have traditionally backed the Congress, are a decisive factor in the electorate landscape of Jorhat. 13. Dibrugarh Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency number: 13 Total electors: 11,24,305 (2014 estimates) [caption id=“attachment_6301851” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] Dibrugarh is the centre of tea politics in Assam, with tea workers constituting more than 30 percent of the electorate in the constituency. Image courtesy Nborkakoty/Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Male electors: 5,79,657 Female electors: 5,44,648 Assembly Constituencies: Moran, Dibrugarh, Lahowal, Duliajan, Tingkhong, Naharkaria, Tinsukia, Digboi, Margherita Reserved: No Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: Barring one term, Paban Singh Ghatowar represented this constituency between 1991 and 2014. However, Sarbananda Sonowal, who was then an AGP leader, represented the constituency between 2004 and 2009. In the 2014 elections, Rameshwar Teli of the BJP won the seat. Demographics: Dibrugarh is the centre of tea politics in Assam, with tea workers constituting more than 30 percent of the electorate in the constituency. In fact, Ghatowar himself comes from the tea tribe – communities which were brought in to work in estates in Assam. 14. Lakhimpur Lok Sabha Constituency Constituency number: 14 Total electors: 14,30,994 (2014 estimates) Male electors: 7,35,263 Female electors: 6,95,731 Assembly Constituencies: Majuli (ST), Naoboicha, Lakhimpur, Dhakuakhana (ST), Dhemaji (ST), Jonai (ST), Chabua, Doom Dooma, Sadiya Reserved: No Results in last four Lok Sabha elections: The seat is currently in the BJP’s kitty. Former Congress minister Ranee Narah won the seat in 1998, 1999 and 2009 elections. In 2009 elections, Arun Kumar Sarmah of the AGP won the seat. In the 2014 polls, BJP’s Sarbananda Sonowal won the seat defeating Narah by a huge margin. He vacated the seat in 2016 to take over as Chief Minister of Assam. Demography: The Ahom community as well as the Mishing tribe, one of the largest tribes in the North East, who also inhabit parts of Arunachal Pradesh, are the main electorates in the constituency. Tea workers are also a sizeable section of the electorate in Lakhimpur.