GUWAHATI

Assam’s Mandate 2026 marks a new political journey for tribal council chiefs and their kin.

Tuliram Ronghang, the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), and his Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) counterpart Tankeswar Rabha are the Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidates from the reserved Rongkhang and Dudhnai Assembly constituencies.

A CEM is the head of the government of a specific tribal autonomous area within a State. The KAAC is one of three tribal councils under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, while the RHAC is one of nine statutory autonomous councils in Assam.

‘A new platform’

“This is a new journey for me. I carry the aspirations and voices of our people, hoping to serve them from another platform of power,” Mr. Ronghang, who has been the CEM of KAAC since October 2013, said. The platform he referred to is the 126-member Assam Assembly.

Known for his proximity to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Mr. Ronghang faced flak in the KAAC after two people — a tribal and a non-tribal man with disability — were killed during a communal conflict over “outsiders” allegedly squatting on government grazing lands in December 2025. He also allegedly played a role in the denial of a ticket to Assembly Deputy Speaker Numal Momin, who represents Bokajan constituency in Karbi Anglong district.

Mr. Rabha, who has led the RHAC for three consecutive terms, is the president of the regional Rabha Hasong Joutha Mancha party but is contesting the Dudhnai seat on a BJP symbol. “To be in the Assembly does not mean I will step away from my responsibilities towards the council. I will continue to work for its welfare and for the development of the region,” he said after filing his nomination papers on Friday (March 20, 2026).

Mr. Rabha, who wants the RHAC to be upgraded to a Sixth Schedule area, is one of the strongest tribal voices against the demand to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six indigenous communities — Adivasi, Chutia, Koch-Rajbongshi, Matak, Moran, and Tai-Ahom. He insists that the Assam ST list can be expanded only if the existing tribes continue to enjoy their rights and privileges.

The Bodoland People’s Front has fielded Sewli Mohilary from Kokrajhar, the Assembly constituency and headquarters of the Bodoland Territorial Council, a Sixth Schedule area. She is the wife of Hagrama Mohilary, the chief of the BTC.

“I will try to live up to the expectations of the people and work for their development if elected,” she said, insisting that she does not foresee much of a challenge from her rivals in the constituency, including Lawrence Islary, the MLA of the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL).

The UPPL’s president, Pramod Boro, is a former CEM of the Bodoland Territorial Council. Elected to the Rajya Sabha before the Assam Assembly election date was announced, he is contesting the Tamulpur constituency.

Mr. Boro’s prime rival is Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary of the BJP. The UPPL walked out of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance a few days ago.

Polling for the 126-member Assam Assembly will be held in a single phase on April 9 and the results will be announced on May 4.