Assam Opposition Sounds Alarm Over Voter Exclusion Fears in Special Revision Process
As the Special Revision of electoral rolls progresses in Assam, opposition parties have raised serious concerns about what they describe as systematic attempts to exclude legitimate voters from the electoral process. The controversy has prompted formal complaints to election authorities and administrative interventions at the district level.
Congress Leader's Formal Complaint to Election Commission
Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly, Congress's Debabrata Saikia, has written a detailed letter to the Chief Election Commissioner in Delhi expressing grave apprehensions about the revision process. In his communication, Saikia highlighted widespread filing of objections against existing voters by third parties, particularly in his Nazira constituency.
Saikia has demanded immediate action on several fronts:
- A comprehensive post-verification review in assembly constituencies to identify instances of false, misleading, or incorrect reporting
- Examination of objection verification results to ensure no community or social group faces disproportionate targeting
- Remedial directions to guarantee no voter names are deleted without strict compliance with natural justice principles
The Congress leader specifically noted that most affected electors in Nazira constituency belong to Muslim communities and other indigenous groups who have resided in the area since pre-independence times. He expressed concern about lack of transparency by Booth Level Officers, suggesting possible coordination between certain BLOs and local political actors to exclude legitimate voters.
AIUDF Raises Similar Concerns About Large-Scale Objections
Adding to the chorus of concerns, AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam revealed that during a meeting with the Assam Chief Electoral Officer, party representatives were informed that over 26 lakh objections had been filed across the state, with most currently undergoing verification.
"The large-scale objections, and large numbers of objections being filed by third parties against multiple people, show that there is an attempt to whimsically cut down the number of voters, particularly non-BJP voters, by the time of the elections," Islam claimed, highlighting the political dimension of the controversy.
District Administrations Respond with Official Notices
Amid growing concerns about "bulk" and "false" objections, district administrations have begun taking official cognizance of the situation. Nagaon District Commissioner Devashish Sharma, who also serves as District Election Officer, issued a significant public notice placing public hearings for three constituencies in abeyance until further orders.
The affected constituencies include Barhampur, Nagaon-Batadraba, and Raha. Sharma acknowledged the concerns regarding bulk and false objections while explaining the electoral commission's position.
"The election commission allows for anyone to file objections, and we have to verify them. There may be agents of political parties, but in many cases, it could also be overzealous individuals and those trying to settle personal scores," Sharma stated, providing insight into the complex dynamics at play.
Lakhimpur District Follows Suit with Similar Notice
In North Assam, the Lakhimpur district administration has taken similar action, issuing a notice that mirrors the approach taken by Nagaon district authorities. This coordinated response indicates the widespread nature of concerns across multiple districts in Assam.
The situation has created what opposition leaders describe as a serious threat to due process, equality before law, and the overall credibility, neutrality, and integrity of the electoral system. As verification processes continue, all eyes remain on how election authorities will balance legitimate voter list purification with protecting citizens' voting rights.
