Guwahati: Residents of five villages in the Tingkhong constituency of Assam’s Dibrugarh district have alleged that their names have been omitted from the electoral roll for the upcoming Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council (SKAC) elections, scheduled to be held in September, despite possessing all the required documents to vote.
According to local residents, the affected villages are Dirai Alikinar, Dikcham Block, No. 2 Barbil (Thekeraguri), Longboi and Powali Baghmara under the Tingkhang constituency. They alleged that the names of members from nearly 60 to 70 families do not appear in the voters’ list.
Addressing the media, members of the Sonowal Kachari community said the omission has effectively denied them the opportunity to participate in the upcoming council elections.
The Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council is a statutory body constituted by the Assam government to protect the social, cultural and economic interests of the Sonowal Kachari community. It is also responsible for implementing development programmes in notified areas.
Residents alleged that they have repeatedly urged the authorities over the years to grant the five villages the status of “notified villages” under the council. However, they claimed that no action has been taken so far.
They argued that the lack of notified status has not only led to their exclusion from the electoral roll but could also prevent residents, particularly younger generations, from accessing educational, agricultural and livelihood-related benefits provided through the autonomous council.
The villagers have appealed to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Tingkhang MLA Bimal Bora and Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council Chief Executive Member Tongkeshwar Sonowal to intervene immediately. They urged the authorities to notify the five villages and ensure that all eligible residents are included in the electoral roll before the September elections.