Himanta Biswa Sarma announces abolishment of four districts of Assam; Bhupen Borah calls him "Kim Jong-un of Assam"

On the eve of the new year, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma held a press conference today in Delhi after a cabinet meeting. A few notable announcements were made in his press conference. Four present districts of Assam i.e. Biswanath, Hojai, Tamulpur, and Bojali would be abolished and their status would be reduced to subdivisions from now on. Along with it, a few areas of the Cachar, Karimganj, and Hailakandi districts will be reorganized and their existing district jurisdiction will be changed.

In the first order signed by Avinash Joshi, Principal Secretary to the Govt. of Assam the reason for reorganisation has been stated as “For better law and order maintenance, communication and general conveniences of public as well as to ensure better public service delivery”. As per the order, the revenue circles or villages named after Dudhpur Part -II, Mahadebpur (Mohanpur), Gonirgram Part I, Gonirgram Part II, and Sirpur Part II which were earlier a part of Cachar district would now be considered a part of Hailakandi district.

In the second order signed by Avinash Joshi, Principal Secretary to the Govt. of Assam the reason for reorganization has been stated as “For better communication and general conveniences of public as well as to ensure better public service delivery”. As per the order, the revenue villages of Madarpur, Niz Haritikar Part II, Harinagar Part I, Harinagar Part II, Harinagar Part III, Chandinagar Part II,  Tukergram, Chandinagar Part I, Lathimara, Najatpur, Karaikandi Part II, Lohamali which were earlier a part of Cachar district would now be considered a part of Karimganj district.

In the third order signed by Avinash Joshi, Principal Secretary to the Govt. of Assam the reason for reorganisation has been stated as “The Badarpur Municipal Area is currently 30 kms away from the District HQ and inclusion of these areas under Katigorah Revenue Circle of Cachar District will save the valuable time and cost of accessing the public service delivery system. For administrative convenience, smooth day to day security liasoning, swift justice delivery, easy access to health facilities and in the interest of Public Service”. As per the order, the areas under Badarpur Municipal Board namely Badarpur Town Chapra (Part), Badarpur Town Badarpur, Badarpur Town Alakulipur (Part), Badarpur Town Jum Part -III, Badarpur Town Jum Part-V, Badarpur Town Jum Part-VII, Pahar Kitte Samadar Mukam (Part), Pahar Kitte Kukitilla (Part), Chapra Kitte Rail Sarkar Khal, Chapra Kitte Bundashil which were earlier a part of Karimganj district would now be considered a part of Cachar district.

In the fourth order signed by Avinash Joshi, Principal Secretary to the Govt. of Assam the reason for reorganisation has been stated as “For administrative expediency and in the interest of public service, as Panchgram GP is much closer to and better connected with the important government offices and medical establishments of Cachar district in comparison to government offices and medical establishments of Hailakandi district, for smooth and quick service delivery with regard to law and order situations, access to justice delivery system, revenue settlement, smooth conduct of elections, effective disaster management and mitigation, and access to health facilities”. As per the order, the revenue villages of Panchagram, Uttar Badarpur, Thandapur, Badarpur Grant, Uttar Kanchanpur, Bakorihawr Part-I, Dakshin Badarpur which were earlier a part of Hailakandi district would now be considered a part of Cachar district.

The decision of abolishing four districts of Assam did not sit well with the Congress party. Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Bhupen Borah termed Himanta Biswa Sharma as “Kim Jong-un of Assam” referring to the infamous dictator of North Korea. Speaking to reporters in Barpeta, the Assam Congress Party President told reporters that the state government has hurt the sentiments of the people of the four districts on New Year’s Eve by abolishing their district status. He also said that when Congress forms government in 2026, in the first cabinet meeting all the four abolished districts would be reinstated again.