BJP-Backed Panchayat Win Triggers ST(P) Row, Digboi MLA in Hot Seat

The Digboi Assembly constituency has once again found itself at the centre of a political storm, with sitting MLA Suren Phukan drawn into the controversy. The latest uproar surrounds Pallabi Baruah, a recently elected panchayat representative, whose eligibility for contesting from an ST (P) reserved seat has come under serious question. Stepping into the fray, the All Assam Tribal Sangha has formally lodged a complaint with the Tinsukia district administration, demanding her immediate disqualification on the grounds of alleged violation of reservation norms.

The Background

Pallabi Baruah registered her victory in ward No. 1 of Golai GP (Gaon Panchayat) under Digboi assembly constituency.  The ward was reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) plains candidates in the recent Panchayat election. Notably, Baruah is supported by the ruling BJP (Bharatiya Janta Party) and she is known to be close to Suren Phukan.

Her victory led to scratching of her reservation status by some locals. It was later revealed that Pallabi Baruah has a caste certificate issued in Jorhat district mentioning her to be belonged to ‘Chakma’ tribe, which is a ‘Hills Tribe in Plains’. This sparked a question—whether she is eligible for a ST (P) reserved seat with this status?

Does a Chakma Qualify for an ST (P) Reserve Seat?

Bhupen Sonowal, the secretary of Margherita district unit of All Assam Tribal Sangha, while speaking to Pratidin Time said that Pallabi Baruah can’t qualify for the ward No. 6 under Golai GP.

Citing the reason he said—“The Chakmas are hills tribe in plains of Assam. Within this category, they are entitled to get the economic educational and employment benefits, not political.”

Adding, Sonowal said—“This renders her unfit for contesting from a ST(P) reserve seat. The ward 6 of Golai GP is reserved for ST(P). how can she be eligible?”

Sonowal gave Pratidin Time a copy of their complaint to the DC and ADC of Tinsukia district seeking her disqualification. The complaint letter reads—“ As such being a member of Hills Tribe in Plain, she is not Eligible to contest from a seat reserved for S/T (P) as there is no political reservation for "Hills Tribe in Plain" category candidates in the Plain region of Assam.”

Their complaint letter accompanies the caste certificate of Pallabi Baruah obtained from Jorhat district, which can also be downloaded from Assam e-district website.

Pallab Shyam Wailung, the secretary of Tirap Autonomous Council Demand Committee while demanding an immediate action on this matter told Pratidin Time—“This is an anti-tribal attitude. When it is clear that the reservation category Pallabi Baruah belongs to doesn’t provide political right to contest from the concerned seat, then how came this possible? Anyone involved should be brought to book. If the MLA is involved then he should also be enquired.  We demand that an immediate enquiry be conducted by Tinsukia district administration. We also demand that  Pallabi Baruah be disqualified and sent to jail. Otherwise there will be movement against it.

Government notification No.TAD/ST/279/82/16 dated, Dispur, the 24th Dec/82 spell that the 'Hill Tribes in plains' are entitled to get economic, educational and employment benefits against quota reserved for ST (Hills) but not for electoral reservation.

Why Fingers Pointed to Digboi MLA?

Source under the condition of anonymity told Pratidin Time that Pallabi Baruah was the choice of MLA Suren Phukan. “The ward No. 6 was Ward no. 5 in the previous Panchayat election and the president post of Golai GP was reserved for ST (P), not ward 5”— it told adding—“The previous president of the GP belongs to the ST(P) category and was perfectly fit for contesting the election from ward 6. However, due to Phukan's choice Pallabi Baruah got the chance.” 

Bhupen Sonowal, more concerned about the legality of the matter, added—“The scrutiny officers are to be blamed  primarily. They checked the nominations and verified their eligibility. How did they miss this fundamental aspect?”

However, Sonowal appears to give a space for questioning the MLA when he said —“People say that there was pressure from the MLA. It is an informal truth that the local MLAs play important role in distributing tickets to Panchayat candidates as well in deciding the GP president.”

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