Democracy a great leveller

Former chief of India’s elite National Security Guard (NSG) Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary will take on two former militants, among others, in Assam’s trouble-torn Kokrajhar parliamentary constituency, which will go to poll on April 24.

Mooshahary, who was also the Director General of Border Security Force (BSF), is contesting as a Trinamool Congress candidate in his debut in politics.

His main challenger is a militant turned politician Chandan Brahma of Bodoland Peoples' Front (BPF).

Brahma is currently the Transport minister in the Assam Government.

The BPF is the offshoot of erstwhile Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) which was disbanded in 2003 following a tripartite agreement between the Union government, state government and the militant group.

Another militant-turned politician in the fray is Naba Kumar Sarania, a former Ulfa militant, who is better known by his alias Heera Sarania.

This is not all. The independent candidate Urkhao Gwra Brahma, though has no direct militant past, has been backed by National Democratic Front of Boroland-Progressive (NDFB-P), which is presently in ceasefire with the government.

Interestingly, in this constituency which has a history of riots and militancy, both the super cop and ex-militants are promising peace.
In 2012, over 100 people were killed in a communal clash between Bengali speaking Muslims and Bodos. Two communities had also clashed in 1953, 1993 and 1994.

There were also series of clashes between Bodos and Adivasis in the area between 1996 and 1998.

“There is no peace in Kokrajhar. Development has taken a back seat. If elected, I promise to address the issue of good governance and safety and security of the people," Mooshahary told a rally in Kokrajhar at the end of the campaign.

Photo: Reuters

Photo: Reuters

The non-Bodos, who have been at the receiving end of the long-drawn violence in this Bodo dominated areas, however seem to be depending more on a former militant than the ex-NSG chief for their protection.

Obodo Suraksha Samiti (OSS), a conglomeration of 21 non-Bodo organizations of the area has backed Sarania.

He promised to safeguard the interest of the non-Bodo population of Kokrajhar constituency.

According to him these people were discriminated against and deprived of their rights by the former Bodo militant turned politicians who now run the Bodoland Territorial Council.

Ulfa, however, is not amused to see one of its leaders shunning bullets for ballots. It has expelled Sarania from the organisation and also asked people not to vote for him.