The saffron surge continues in the North-East as the BJP swept the polls to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), the Sixth Schedule Autonomous council, that runs the administration in the hill district.
The BJP, which heads the three party ruling alliance in Assam, devastated the Congress which had been mostly in power in the council since its inception in 1951. The saffron party which went for the polls on its own could win 24 of the total 26 seats in the council.
Interestingly, the Congress drew a blank followed by the Asom Gana Parishad, which had also fielded candidates in 16 seats. The remaining two seats of the council were grabbed by Karbi Anglong Democratic Forum, a new front formed ahead of the council polls by some disgruntled BJP leaders. The landslide victory assumes significance for the BJP as it is the party’s maiden poll foray into KAAC.