Meghalaya MP Saleng Sangma appeals voters to reject ‘divisive politics', accuses BJP of sidelining tribal voices

Campaigning in Assam’s newly constituted Boko-Chaygaon Assembly constituency intensified on Wednesday, April 1 as Meghalaya’s Tura Lok Sabha MP Saleng A. Sangma joined Congress efforts in support of party candidate Ramen Singh Rabha.

Addressing a series of public meetings across villages in the constituency, Sangma urged voters to reject what he described as “communal politics” and consolidate support behind the Congress. He alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was attempting to polarise the electorate and divide the Garo community by projecting the National People’s Party (NPP) candidate as a proxy.

The Boko-Chaygaon seat, reserved for Scheduled Tribes, has a significant Garo voter base—estimated at around 30,000. Highlighting this demographic, Sangma appealed to Garo voters to remain “vigilant against divisive forces” and vote collectively in favour of the Congress candidate.

In a pointed attack on the BJP, Sangma accused the party of sidelining tribal representation, noting that it had not fielded a single Garo candidate. He also referred to the denial of a ticket to Assam Assembly Deputy Speaker Nomal Momin, describing it as indicative of the party’s approach towards tribal leadership. He further alleged that both the BJP and the NPP had failed to adequately represent indigenous voices in the region.

Meanwhile, Congress nominee Ramen Singh Rabha criticised BJP candidate Raju Mech over his reported remark that voting for the BJP would be a “pious act.” Rabha termed the statement “the most absurd comment of the 2026 Assembly elections” and questioned whether the BJP viewed itself as being “above God.”

With sharp exchanges between political rivals, the campaign in Boko-Chaygaon has entered a more confrontational phase. Congress leaders have stepped up their criticism of both the BJP and the NPP, while simultaneously calling for unity among Garo voters ahead of polling.