A Bodo woman and her boy walk out of a polling booth after casting their vote during the Bodoland Territorial District 3 (BTAD) elections in Baksa district of Assam in April 2015. | Photo credit: RITU RAJ KONWAR
GUWAHATI
Assam’s 2026 mandate marks a new political journey for tribal council chiefs and their kin.
Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) Chief Executive Member (CEM) Tuliram Ronghang and his Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) counterpart Tankeswar Rabha are Bharatiya Janata Party candidates from Rongkhang and Dudhnai Assembly reserved constituencies.
The CEM is the head of government of a particular tribal autonomous region within the state. KAAC is one of the three Tribal Councils under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, while RHAC is one of the nine statutory autonomous councils in Assam.
“New Platform”
“This is a new path for me. I am carrying the aspirations and voices of our people, hoping to serve them from a different platform of power,” said Mr. Ronghang, who has been CEM KAAC since October 2013. The platform he was referring to is the 126-member Assam Assembly.
Mr Ronghang, known for his closeness to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, faced flak in the KAAC after two people – a tribal and a non-tribal disabled man – were killed during a communal conflict over “foreigners” allegedly squatting on government pastures in December 2025. He also allegedly played a role in the rejection of the Bokaminumal assembly ticket, which represents Deputy Nustitu. Karbi Anglong District.
Mr. Rabha, who has led the RHAC for three consecutive terms, is the president of the Rabha Hasong Joutha Mancha regional party, but is contesting the Dudhnai seat on the BJP symbol. “Being on the council does not mean that I will back down from my duties to the council. I will continue to work for its welfare and the development of the region,” he said after filing his nomination papers on Friday (March 20, 2026).
Mr. Rabha, who wants RHAC to be upgraded to a Sixth Schedule area, is one of the strongest tribal voices against the demand to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six tribal communities – Adivasi, Chutia, Koch-Rajbongshi, Matak, Moran and Tai-Ahom. He insists that the Assam ST list can be expanded only if the existing tribes continue to enjoy their rights and privileges.
The Bodoland People’s Front has fielded Sewli Mohilary from Kokrajhar, an assembly constituency and seat of the Bodoland Territorial Council, a Sixth Plan area. She is the wife of Hagrama Mohilary, the head of BTC.
“I will try to meet people’s expectations and work for their development if elected,” she said, insisting she did not foresee a major challenge from her rivals in the constituency, including Lawrence Islary, MLA from the United People’s Liberal Party (UPPL).
The President of UPPL, Pramod Boro is a former CEM of Bodoland Territorial Council. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha before the date of the Assam Assembly elections was announced and is contesting from the Tamulpur constituency.
Mr Boro’s main rival is Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary of the BJP. The UPPL walked out of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance a few days ago.
Polling for the 126-member Assam Assembly will be held in a single phase on April 9 and the results will be declared on May 4.
Published – 21 March 2026 16:48 IST
