Nagaon, March 12: The contours of politics in the hill district of Dima Hasao are set to change with the erstwhile militant group Dima Halam Daogah (Nunisa) deciding to float a political party, Dima Hasao Dol (DHD).
The DHD (N) bade a ceremonious farewell to arms on March 9.
The new party will contest in all the 28 seats in Dima Hasao Council elections, which are expected in April. Two of the 30 members of the council are nominated.
Dilip Nunisa, who was the chairman of the militant group, said the new party would be formally launched at a public meeting in the DHD’s Basabari camp on Friday.
Nunisa said that an 11-member ad hoc body was formed yesterday and it would work out the modalities.
“Our basic objectives are implementation of the provisions of the MoS, socio-economic development of the district, development of the communities residing in the district in accordance with the Sixth Schedule and creating employment opportunities,” he said.
The Dimasa militant outfit, which was perceived to be close to the ruling Congress since its 2003 ceasefire, today ruled out truck with any political formation.
“We will contest from all the 28 constituencies in Dima Hasao. There will be neither pre nor post-poll alliance with anybody but we are willing to take all with us. I will contest from Doyangmukh, general secretary {of the DHD (N)} Slairing Sengyung will contest from Diyungbra and assistant secretary (of the DHD-N) Rajesh Naiding will contest from Hamri. Pranab Nunisa (commander-in-chief of DHD-N) will not contest,” Nunisa told The Telegraph.
The DHD (N), along with the Joel Garlosa-led DHD (J), had jointly signed the MoS with the government in October 2012. According to the MoS, the council will be expanded to 40 seats from 2017.
Dima Hasao district has been known as a Congress stronghold in both council and Assembly elections. Former council chief executive member Samarjeet Haflongbar was the only Opposition MLA elected from Haflong in 1996 since seniormost Congress leader G.C. Langthasa joined politics in 1965. The erstwhile Autonomous State Demand Committee had ruled the council for two years from 1996 and for one year in 2007.
The worst ever performance of the Congress was in 2007 district council election, when the party had managed only three of the 28 seats whereas the ASDC had 16 and BJP had nine members. Subsequently, all the Opposition members, except former chief executive member Mohit Hojai (who is in jail), joined the Congress.
“There are several communities and Nunisa’s influence is limited to a particular segment. Besides, given the new party’s background it may not be an alternative. We do not think the new party could do any harm to us,” said a Congress source.
The source cited the instance of the neighbouring Karbi Anglong district-based erstwhile militant outfit United People’s Democratic Solidarity, which did not perform well in the council election in that district.
“Our aim is big. The people of Dima Hasao are with us and we will prove it in the upcoming election,” Nunisa said.
