Keen contest in 58-kanubari by-election on the card Denhang Bosai, A keen contest is expected in the 58 Kanubari Assembly bye-elections where the ruling Congress party candidate Gabriel Denwang Wangsu, former senior journalist is pitted against BJP candidate, Rongnai Maham, former ZPC of Tirap and Longding districts. Both of them unsuccessfully contested in the last Assembly election which was won by late Newlai Tingkhatra, former minister on Congress ticket posthumously. The election is being held today amidst tight security arrangements. It may be recalled that the bye-elections had to be held to fill the vacant seat of 58-Kanubari Assembly due to the unfortunate death of former minister late Newlai Tingkhatra who was the senior most and the most popular leader of the area. All the Congress ministers and MLAs including the Chief Minister Nabam Tuki campaigned hard for the Congress candidate Wangsu. Longding MLA Thangwang Wangham played a stellar role during the hectic campaigning as some of the villages are contagious to his 59-Longding-Pumao Assembly constituency. The BJP also did not lag behind in the campaign. The charismatic MoS for Home, Kiren Rijiju led the campaign for the party candidate Maham. It may be mentioned here that there are 28 Polling Stations in the 58-Kanubari Assembly constituency. Some of the Polling Stations are hyper sensitive thanks to their proximity with Assam, for instance the controversial Husse-Russa Polling Station which is always in the news for the unwarranted interference by Assam during any election. In fact, the whole Kanubari area is sensitive as border skirmishes erupt from time to time between the Assamese and the Wanchos living in the borders of the two neighbouring states. However, thankfully, there is a temporary lull as of now. But the Assam Police often torment the people living on Arunachal side without any provocation. Hence, this bye-election is an important exercise for reasons more than one. By this evening the fate of the two contesting candidates will be effectively sealed in the EVMs and the winner will be known when the EVMs are opened on the counting day. For now, all are keeping their fingers crossed including the contesting candidates and the party big-wigs of both the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP. Kanubari falls in the Longding district having borders with Assam, Nagaland and Tirap district. In fact, Longding is an offshoot of Tirap district. Interestingly, a Wancho village called Naitong is in Tirap district but the villagers vote in 58-Kanubari Assembly constituency. Its Polling Station is 19. The district was created during the present HCM Nabam Tuki’s tenure. This election will be in a way a watershed because the ruling Congress number will increase by one if the party wins an so also the BJP which is desperately in need of more numbers will be boosted if it’s party candidate wins. As a matter of fact the 58-Kanubari Assembly constituency has always been a Congress bastion. It will be interesting to see if the opposition party BJP breaks the jinx.
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 07:27:58 +0000