JMM Questions Exclusion of Assam from Electoral Roll Revision

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has raised serious questions about why Assam has been excluded from the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, while the exercise is being conducted in twelve other states and union territories that are due for assembly elections.

Political Allegations and Counterclaims

On Thursday, JMM central general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya directly challenged the Centre and the Election Commission of India over the exclusion of Assam from the voter list revision process. The SIR exercise began on November 4 across nine states and three union territories following its completion in Bihar.

Bhattacharya pointed out the apparent inconsistency in the Election Commission's approach. "We want to ask why Assam isn't included in SIR when it is also slated to go to assembly elections early next year", he stated. The JMM leader specifically highlighted that West Bengal, which is ruled by a non-BJP government, was included in the revision while Assam, governed by the BJP, was excluded.

The BJP quickly dismissed these allegations as completely unfounded. BJP state spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo countered that the Election Commission is conducting the SIR in phases across the entire country. He accused opposition parties of seeing bias only because "they have systematically sheltered the Muslim infiltrators from Bangladesh and turned them into their vote bank."

Legal Complexities Behind Assam's Exclusion

Sources within the Election Commission have revealed that Assam's exclusion from the special revision stems from unique legal circumstances. The state operates under Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, a provision that applies exclusively to Assam and was introduced following the 1985 Assam Accord.

This special provision establishes March 24, 1971, as the cutoff date for determining citizenship in Assam, which differs significantly from the rest of India. This distinction reflects the state's particular demographic challenges and historical context regarding immigration from Bangladesh.

Ongoing NRC Process Adds Complexity

Further complicating the electoral roll revision in Assam is the Supreme Court-monitored updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) of 1951. This extensive exercise aims to identify genuine Indian citizens residing in the state.

The final NRC list, published in 2019, created significant controversy when it excluded nearly 1.9 million people from citizenship. This exclusion triggered numerous legal battles, intense political debates, and widespread anxiety among affected populations.

Critically, the NRC process remains incomplete as the Supreme Court has yet to accept the final list, leaving the citizenship status of many residents in legal limbo and creating additional challenges for maintaining accurate electoral rolls in the state.

The states currently undergoing SIR include: