In a show of strength and growing discontent, hundreds of members belonging to Assam’s indigenous Chutia community organised a large-scale demonstration at Moran town in Dibrugarh district on Saturday, pressing their long-pending demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The agitators marched through the town brandishing placards and banners with the rallying cry “No ST, No Rest,” signaling their unwavering resolve.
The protest witnessed participation from several leading Chutia organisations, most notably the All Assam Chutia Students’ Union (AACSU), highlighting the widespread dissatisfaction within the community over the government’s prolonged inaction on their demand.
With the 2026 Assembly elections on the horizon, the community has issued a direct political challenge to the ruling BJP. AACSU General Secretary Raju Chutia delivered an unequivocal ultimatum, threatening to withdraw electoral support from the saffron party if their demands continue to be ignored.
“For 11 years since 2014, we have patiently awaited the BJP’s fulfillment of its commitment to grant ST status to the Chutia community. This prolonged neglect is unacceptable. Unless our demands are met without further delay, we will entirely boycott the BJP during the 2026 Assembly polls,” Raju Chutia said.
He cautioned that the political fallout would be substantial. “The party will encounter severe opposition from our community as public anger has intensified considerably. As indigenous people of Assam, ST status is our legitimate right,” he added.
The roots of this agitation lie in the BJP’s campaign pledges during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured ST status to six Assamese communities—Chutias, Tai Ahoms, Mottocks, Koch Rajbongshis, Morans, and Tea Tribes. However, more than a decade later, none of these communities have received the promised recognition. All six groups currently hold Other Backward Class (OBC) classification.
The Chutia community, with significant population concentrations in upper Assam districts, has been persistently campaigning for ST status, contending that such constitutional recognition would ensure greater protection of their rights and enhanced access to reserved opportunities in education and government employment.The ST status demand has evolved into a politically sensitive issue across Assam, with various indigenous groups organising sustained campaigns and leveraging their electoral influence. Saturday’s mobilisation in Moran marks an escalation in the Chutia community’s agitation strategy, reflecting their determination to secure their demands.
Political observers note that the BJP’s continued postponement of action on these community demands could significantly damage its electoral standing in upper Assam, where these groups constitute an important voter base. While the party has enjoyed electoral dominance in Assam since 2016, unmet promises on crucial identity-related issues may weaken its support among indigenous communities.
Community representatives have vowed to intensify their movement through additional demonstrations and public mobilisation campaigns if the government fails to take concrete steps toward addressing their demands in the near future.
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