No campaign for Meghalaya election in disputed areas of West Karbi Anglong District: KSA

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 10, 2025

All is not well in the disputed areas of the Assam Meghalaya along West Jaintia Hills District and West Karbi Anglong District following the conduct of election campaign in Block -I for the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) and prompted the Karbi Students’ Association (KSA) to prohibit any campaign for Meghalaya election in West Karbi Anglong District Assam.

The KSA’s decision for prohibiting any campaign for Meghalaya election in West Karbi Anglong District came after NPP Candidate Aiborlang Shadap campaigned in Mowjem Block -I on February 6th, last. The campaign was covered by media from West Karbi Anglong District, which questioned how Meghalaya-based political activities were being conducted in what they consider Assam’s jurisdiction. They also raised concerns over whether the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) would intervene.

The KSA united all its four groups on February 8th last and decided to stop any vehicles traveling from Meghalaya to Pnar villages in West Karbi Anglong District for any election campaign in their areas.

Congress Candidate of Barato Mukroh Constituency Banikas Laban a resident of Mowlber village in Block-I of West Jaintia Hills District is now in the center of controversy for the KSA claiming that Mowlber falls under West Karbi Anglong District, Assam. The association has strongly opposed her candidacy, questioning how a resident of what they consider Assam’s territory can contest elections under Meghalaya’s jurisdiction.

Laban and her supporters on February 7, were blocked by Karbi at Umkhyrmi village in West Karbi Anglong District while she was en route to Saba village near Mukroh for campaigning. The villagers questioned why she was holding election activities in their area and demanded that she obtain prior permission from the West Karbi Anglong authorities before proceeding. A tense standoff ensued, but after negotiations, the villagers eventually allowed her to continue.

The ongoing border tensions are further complicated by the recent delimitation of JHADC constituencies, which saw villages such as Mowlber, Psiar, and Khatkasla—previously under Saphai Constituency—being reassigned to Barato Mukroh Constituency. As a result, candidates now have to travel through Karbi villages for election campaigning, as the alternative route via Sahsniang and Laskein would add 30 to 40 kilometres to the journey.

The incident highlights the deep-rooted territorial disputes between Assam and Meghalaya, with local communities divided over political and administrative affiliations. With elections approaching, the situation remains volatile, adding another layer of complexity to an already tense boundary conflict.