Amit Shah to Visit Assam on Feb 11, Likely to Meet Koch Heir Ananta Rai at Bongaigaon
GUWAHATI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to visit Assam once again on February 11. This will be the second visit of the Union Home Minister to the election-bound Assam in the last fortnight.
As per sources, Amit Shah would be not only visiting here but also to the neighbouring state of West Bengal that goes to polls soon along with Assam.
Amit Shah's visit is also expected to send out the right signals for the Koch-Rajbonshi community in poll-bound Assam as the state has a significant Koch population. Ananta Rai is the self-proclaimed king Cooch Behar and descendent of royal Koch Rajbongshi family.
The Union Minister will likely be accompanied by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during his visit to Ananta Rai's home at Bongaigaon.
Ananta Rai claims to be the king of the Cooch Behar and a descendent of royal Koch Rajbongshi family. The Koch Rajbongshi tribe has a substantial population in the Lower Assam and adjoining state of West Bengal. Rai leads a section of Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA), which campaigns for a separate state or territory for Koch Rajbongshi.
As of now, there are no reports of Amit Shah attending any public meetings during his visit to Assam.
Notably, 6 ethnic communities in Assam including the Koch-Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Chutia, Maran, Matak have been demanding Scheduled Tribe status.
Last month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid a 2-day visit to Assam. Amit Shah held a crucial meeting with BJP party workers on January 24 evening. Amit Shah also held two public meetings at Kokrajhar and Nalbari. In Kokrajhar, Shah took part in festivities to mark the one-year anniversary of the signing of the Bodo Accord.
Campaigning has begun in Assam ahead of the Assembly elections in the state. The tenure of the 126-member Assam Assembly is ending on May 31, 2021. The Assam Legislative Assembly Election is likely to be held in April-May this year.
Meanwhile, Congress is likely to start campaigning in Assam from February 14. According to reports, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to visit Sivsagar. Congress had announced last month that it will form an alliance with five political parties for the Assam Assembly Elections.
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