Nagaon (Assam), 27 February (HS): Political activities have intensified in Assam as preparations gather momentum for the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly elections. With the election drawing closer, constituency-wise strategies are taking shape, and historic Kaliabor has begun witnessing renewed political enthusiasm following changes brought about by the recent delimitation process.

Kaliabor, known for its significant contribution to India’s freedom movement and the Assam Movement, holds a distinguished place in the state’s socio-political and literary landscape. It is the home constituency of former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, who led the Assam Agitation as president of the All Assam Students’ Union and later became the youngest Chief Minister of the state after being elected from Kaliabor and Nagaon.

Following delimitation, the geographical and demographic profile of the Kaliabor Assembly constituency has undergone notable changes. The constituency’s new number is 57, replacing the earlier 89. Previously comprising 18 gram panchayats under two development blocks, the number has now increased to 22 with the inclusion of four new gram panchayats. However, Borghuli gram panchayat has been included in the Rupahi segment and Kathalguri in the Samaguri segment. The total number of voters has also increased compared to earlier figures.

Two important forest ranges — Burhapahar and Bagori — of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kaziranga National Park fall under the Kaliabor block. Strategically located, Kaliabor serves as a central point connecting Upper Assam, Lower Assam and the Barak Valley through National Highway 715, making it a crucial transit hub.

Electorally, since 1985, the constituency has largely remained a stronghold of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), regarded as a bastion of regionalist politics. In 1991, Congress candidate Baloram Nag defeated AGP’s Gunin Hazarika. Subsequently, Gunin Hazarika won consecutively in 1996 and 2001. From 2006 onwards, AGP leader Keshab Mahanta has secured four consecutive victories and is now preparing to contest for a fifth term.

The total electorate in the constituency stands at 1,94,336, including 96,424 male voters, 97,906 female voters and six third-gender voters. According to draft electoral data, the voter composition includes 49,044 Hindu Bengali voters, 46,567 Tea Tribe voters, 41,132 religious minority voters, 36,753 Assamese voters, 6,996 Nepali voters, 6,117 Bodo voters, 4,169 Karbi voters and 3,556 Bihari/Marwari voters.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, AGP (alliance) candidate Keshab Mahanta secured 73,677 votes, defeating Congress (Grand Alliance) candidate Prasanta Kumar Saikia, who polled 44,957 votes. Assam Jatiya Parishad’s Mukul Baruah received 2,627 votes, Independent candidate Bhaskar Sharma secured 1,676 votes, while NOTA accounted for 1,809 votes. Mahanta won by a margin of 28,720 votes over his nearest rival. Despite the past results, the changing dynamics following delimitation have made the Kaliabor contest increasingly intriguing ahead of the 2026 polls.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash