The BJP on Wednesday swept a tribal council poll in Assam despite Statewide protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
The party won 19 of the 28 seats in the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, where elections were held on January 19. The victory came less than two months after the BJP won 41% of the seats in the panchayat elections that were held after its alliance with Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) hit turbulence over the Bill.
“Assam reposes its faith in leadership of Sri @narendramodi and Sri @AmitShah. The results of North Cachar Autonomous Hills Council amply prove this... Congratulations to all my dear colleagues who won,” Assam Finance and Health Minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted.
The Congress bagged two seats while the AGP managed a solitary seat. The remaining six seats went to Independent candidates.
The BJP had drawn a blank in the 2013 NCHAC elections while the Congress and Independent candidates won 10 seats each. But 17 elected members, including some from the Congress, defected to the BJP.
The Congress received a major setback with district party president Nirmal Langthasa and former chief executive member Depolal Hojai biting the dust.
