Assam: Opposition flags ‘grave electoral subversion’ in Assam, seeks immediate EC intervention over SR exercise

Opposition political parties in Assam on Sunday, January 25, submitted a memorandum to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), alleging widespread legal violations, political interference, and targeted harassment of genuine voters during the ongoing Special Revision (SR) of electoral rolls. Terming the process “arbitrary, unlawful and unconstitutional,” the parties warned that lakhs of eligible voters risk being excluded from the final electoral rolls ahead of the publication scheduled for February 10.

The memorandum accuses election officials at multiple levels of flouting statutory provisions under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, the Manual on Electoral Rolls, 2023, and specific Election Commission of India (ECI) directives issued on November 17, 2025. The opposition has sought urgent intervention to ensure a free, fair, and unbiased revision exercise.

According to figures cited in the memorandum, the draft electoral roll published on December 27, 2025, listed 2.51 crore electors, with authorities claiming 100 percent verification coverage across over 61 lakh households. The ECI had already identified 4.78 lakh deceased voters, 5.23 lakh shifted voters, and 53,619 multiple entries for deletion.

Despite this, opposition parties allege that massive, illegal bulk objections were filed during the claims and objections window (December 27, 2025 to January 22, 2026), largely on grounds of death or permanent migration. They contend that it is “beyond belief” that such large numbers of voters could have died or shifted residences within this short span, and argue that Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) should have summarily rejected these objections without issuing notices.

The memorandum further claims that numerous objections were filed fraudulently, without the knowledge of the listed objectors. Several individuals have reportedly come forward publicly, stating that their EPIC numbers and mobile numbers were misused to lodge objections. Despite this, EROs allegedly issued notices to voters, violating Rule 17 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.

Opposition parties also alleged that notices were issued without stating grounds of objection and with unreasonably short response timelines, in violation of ECI communication norms.

Raising serious concerns, the memorandum accuses Booth Level Officers (BLOs) of being pressured by higher authorities to carry out suo moto deletions of voter names—an act expressly prohibited under ECI guidelines. Several BLOs, it claims, have alleged coercion or misuse of their signatures under false pretences.

Additionally, voters affected by eviction drives are allegedly being denied the opportunity to file Form 8 for address changes, both online and offline, effectively disenfranchising them.

The opposition has alleged direct political interference in the SR process at the South Kamrup Co-District Office, naming three BJP office bearers who allegedly frequented the office and influenced officials to issue bulk notices. Photographs and videos circulating on social media reportedly show late-night sittings, including one on January 22 at 8:30 PM, during which bulk notices were allegedly drafted—an act termed a “gross violation” of electoral law.

The memorandum also cites a public statement made by the Assam Chief Minister on January 24, allegedly indicating that members of the Miya community would be deliberately issued notices during the SR exercise. The opposition termed the statement arbitrary, mala fide, and unconstitutional, alleging it reveals a predetermined intent to target a specific community and undermines the neutrality of the electoral process.

They further alleged that the Chief Minister, acting in concert with party functionaries, is attempting to subvert an independent statutory process, amounting to abuse of power and violation of constitutional guarantees of equality and free and fair elections.

The opposition has urged the CEO to:

Summarily reject illegal and bulk objections without harassing voters

Take action against those filing fraudulent objections

Prevent suo moto deletions by officials

Allow eviction-affected voters to file Form 8

Bar political functionaries from influencing election offices

Initiate administrative action against erring officials

Register FIRs against named BJP office bearers under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita

The memorandum calls for urgent corrective measures, warning that failure to act could irreversibly damage public trust in Assam’s electoral process.