With the river Brahmaputra eating up land year after year, India's largest river island Majuli has been reduced to half its size since Independence.
A Garud mask from Chamaguri Satta will be the most prominent gift from Majuli -- Assam's cultural capital and the world's largest inhabited river island -- to prime minister Narendra Modi. On Saturday, PM Modi will campaign here for BJP's chief ministerial candidate, Union minister Sarbanada Sonowal.
The BJP has already promised return gifts, like a bridge across the Brahmaputra. It will be Majuli's first road connection, which means a respite from the five-times-a-day ferry service that residents like Prashanta Das are forced to use.
"Sonowal's high profile will mean development, more attention to us," says Mr Das, who claims to be a BJP supporter.
Pottery and masks on mythological figures from Majuli comprise some of the best handicrafts from the state. A chunk of the people farm. But besides, the chances of employment are slim in the area.
Assam's smallest assembly constituency is shrinking. With Brahmaputra river eating up land year after year, Majuli has been reduced to half its size since Independence.
A Garud mask. Masks from mythological figures is one of the well-known exclusives of Majuli, Assam's cultural capital.
Mohan and Bhaben Kalita, father and son, lost their home to the river a few years ago.
"I don't know where I'll go when the river takes away my new home too. I don't think the Congress has done enough here. But I don't have too many hopes from the BJP either," Mr Mohan said.
Mr Sonowal's opponent in Majuli is no lightweight either.
Among his other achievements, three-time lawmaker and former Assam water resources minister Rajiv Lochan Pegu lists spending over Rs 200 crore in the last decade to prevent erosion.
"I'm not intimidated. At the end of the day, the PM is another MP, and Sonowal is just a contestant like me," Mr Pegu said.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)