Dibrugarh: Various organisations of the Sonowal Kachari community on Friday staged a sit-in demonstration at Chowkidinghee in Assam’s Dibrugarh, protesting the delay in holding the Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council elections.
The protesters raised slogans such as “No election, no BJP.” The agitation has gained particular significance as it is taking place in the home district of former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
The protest is being jointly led by the All Assam Sonowal Kachari Students’ Union (AASKSU), the Sonowal Kachari Youth Council (SKYC), and members of the Sonowal Kachari community.
The leaders of these organisations alleged that the state government has failed to fulfil its commitments regarding the conduct of the Autonomous Council elections.
“As per official notifications, elections to the Autonomous Council were scheduled to be held in 2024. However, the process was deferred to February 2025, and despite repeated assurances, the elections have not been conducted till date,” said a protester.
They further pointed out that on November 10, 2025, the Election Commission of India published the draft electoral roll for the council and fixed a deadline for objections.
Subsequently, on November 28, the Additional Chief Secretary of the state’s Plains Tribal Welfare Department notified the delimitation of 32 constituencies for the council. Despite these formal steps, the elections have not been held, raising what the agitators described as “serious doubts and unanswered questions.”
Expressing strong resentment, the protesters warned that if the Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council elections are not conducted by January, they will not allow the BJP to campaign in Sonowal Kachari–dominated areas during the election period.
“The agitation will be intensified if the government continues to delay the democratic process. We demand that the election be held as soon as possible,” said a protester.
The protesters reiterated that timely elections to the autonomous council are a constitutional and democratic right of the Sonowal Kachari community and demanded immediate action from the state government to restore trust and transparency.