Guwahati: Chief Executive Members (CEMs) of key autonomous councils in Assam are stepping into the state’s mainstream electoral arena, marking a notable shift from regional governance to Assembly politics ahead of the 2026 polls.

Tuliram Ronghang, the Chief Executive Member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), and Tankeswar Rabha, his counterpart in the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC), are among the prominent council leaders contesting on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tickets from the reserved Rongkhang and Dudhnai constituencies respectively.

A CEM heads the executive body of an autonomous council — institutions that govern tribal areas under special constitutional or statutory provisions. While the KAAC operates under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, the RHAC is one of several statutory councils in Assam.

Ronghang, who has led the KAAC since 2013, described his electoral foray as an expansion of his political role. Speaking to media, he said the move reflects an effort to represent the aspirations of his people at the state level. “This is a new journey for me to serve from another platform of power,” he said, referring to the Assam Assembly.

Rabha, a three-term CEM and president of the Rabha Hasong Joutha Mancha, is contesting on a BJP symbol while retaining his regional political identity. He said his Assembly bid would not dilute his commitment to the council. “I will continue to work for the welfare and development of the region,” he said after filing his nomination.

The trend extends beyond the BJP. In Kokrajhar, the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) has fielded Sewli Mohilary, wife of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) chief Hagrama Mohilary, from the constituency that serves as the BTC headquarters. She faces competition from United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) leader Lawrence Islary.

Meanwhile, UPPL president Pramod Boro, himself a former CEM of the BTC, is contesting from Tamulpur. His candidature comes shortly after his election to the Rajya Sabha and the party’s recent exit from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. He is set to face BJP leader and Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary.

The entry of multiple council leaders and their close associates into the Assembly race underscores a broader political recalibration, as figures rooted in autonomous governance seek a larger role in State-level decision-making.

Polling for the 126-member Assam Assembly will be held in a single phase on April 9, with results scheduled for May 4.