Guwahati, Jan 7: As Assam prepares for its Assembly elections, a political battle has emerged surrounding the integrity of the electoral rolls. The Opposition has accused the government of large-scale voter manipulation, a claim the ruling party vehemently denies. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, speaking in Dhemaji on Wednesday, defended the current electoral roll revision process, asserting its transparency and adherence to regulations. He emphasized that maintaining an accurate voter list is a shared responsibility among all political parties.
Sarma stated, “If someone has passed away, their name must be removed. If a voter is registered in two places, one entry must be eliminated. Otherwise, allegations of duplicate voters will surface later.” He urged even the Congress party to collaborate in removing names of deceased individuals from the voter list. He highlighted the role of Booth Level Agents (BLAs), who assist election officials in verifying voter information on the ground.
The Chief Minister detailed how citizens can file complaints or seek corrections by submitting statutory Forms 6, 7, or 8. He clarified that names are not deleted immediately; an objection triggers a notice to the concerned individual, allowing them a chance to respond before any corrections are made after verification.
Reiterating the BJP’s political agenda, Sarma emphasized there is no hidden intent on the part of the government. “Removing the names of illegal Bangladeshi nationals from the electoral rolls and recovering encroached land are part of our agenda. People have voted for us precisely for this,” he stated.
A notification from the Kamrup (M) District Election Officer detailed that the revision is being conducted in strict accordance with the Election Commission of India’s guidelines. It acknowledged complaints about discrepancies at certain polling stations and confirmed that verification was conducted in response. Specific instances were highlighted, such as unknown voter names at House No. 15 and House No. 44 on Tayabulla Road, as well as multiple names registered at a single address, necessitating closer inspection by election officials.
Furthermore, cases of deceased individuals remaining on the rolls and duplicate registrations across different polling areas have been identified, with corrective measures being implemented through due process. This clarification comes after Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia accused the BJP earlier this month of attempting to add “5,000 to 10,000 names” to each constituency just before the election to sway outcomes.
The notification also emphasized that political parties are formally involved in the revision through their BLAs at polling stations, with ongoing public hearings and house-to-house surveys ensuring transparency and accuracy. The final electoral rolls are scheduled to be published on February 10.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/voter-roll-accuracy-collective-duty-says-assam-cm-amid-opposition-charges-1603737
Category: Assam,Featured
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Publish Date: 2026-01-07 17:32:00
