Once a burning issue, CAA languishes on the back burner in Dibrugarh

Voters in Dibrugarh now face the option of choosing continuity, as emphasised by Sonowal — who was an Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) MP from the seat between 2004 and 2009 — and the change advocated by Gogoi.

“There is work left to do,” the former CM told a mixed crowd comprising members of the Moran, Motok, Adivasi, Ahom and Singpho communities, all of whom live in the village of Duarmara Adorxo Gaon, on Thursday. He was referring to further expansion of the road network, issuance of ration cards, and the implementation of Central schemes such as the Jal Jeevan Mission, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, and Ayushman Bharat Yojana.

Incidentally, Sonowal rose to prominence in the 1990s after he challenged the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act, 1983 under which the onus of proving one’s nationality or otherwise rested with the complainant and not the individual. Sonowal’s legal challenge and its consequent striking down by the Supreme Court earned him the sobriquet of “Jatiya Nayak (Assamese national leader)”.

Gogoi, who is a former secretary of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and floated the AJP following the massive anti-CAA protests in 2019-2020, is forcing Sonowal to address the CAA. The AJP, which is contesting the polls as a part of the Opposition INDIA bloc, has accused the former CM of being a “Jatiya Khalnayak (villain)” since his government was in place when the CAA issue boiled over.

“This is not an election between the BJP candidate and Lurinjyoti. It is between the struggles of the people and the injustices of the BJP government. Our people do not have homes. They have not been given mati bheti (land and base). By bringing the CAA, they are opening up options of citizenship for foreigners who entered over 30 years ago,” Gogoi said at a campaign meeting last week.

With the CAA rules being notified days before the parliamentary polls were announced, Sonowal, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, and the BJP are looking to turn the issue on its head with claims that the contentious law is finding no takers from the state and accusing leaders such as Gogoi of “misguiding” people. Sarma recently said only one person had applied for the special provision of citizenship under the CAA.

Voters, who seem to back Gogoi, too are not speaking about CAA. “Lurin should be given a chance as there has been a BJP government and a BJP MP for 10 years now. I think governments should keep changing from time to time. That is good for democracy as well as the people,” said 35-year-old Babul Gogoi, a tea grower in Adorxo Gaon who is not interested in speaking about the CAA.

Runu Phukan (41) of Panitola village, too, echoed Babul. “We are being pressured from all directions with rising prices of mustard oil, potatoes and gas. I am receiving money under the Orunodoi scheme (the state government’s flagship scheme for women) but the Rs 1,250 I get per month is not sufficient to tackle inflation,” she said.

On the other hand, the BJP and Sonowal’s supporters speak of the construction of new roads to highlight the “good work” of the incumbent government.

The BJP is banking on the support of Adivasi tea plantation workers of the constituency, who make up around 30% of the electorate. “Sonowal is good for tea workers. He is from here and has supported our rights. The BJP government is doing good work for the protection of the country,” said Bamon Harpal, a line supervisor, even as he complained about the quality of roads in the residential lines of the Chubwa Tea Estate.

Sonowal also faces a challenger in Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Manoj Dhonwar, a leader from the tea community and the son of former Congress minister Rameswar Dhanowar. While the AAP, which is a part of the INDIA bloc at the national level, has yet to find its feet in the region, Dhanowar’s campaign got a boost last week as Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and Delhi Minister Atishi campaigned for him.