Assam: 800 voters to boycott elections in Silchar over polling booth shift

In a dramatic turn of events, approximately 800 voters from Group 3 of Sonai Azadi Bazar Gram Panchayat (GP) in the Silchar Lok Sabha constituency have issued a stern ultimatum to boycott elections.

The looming boycott stems from widespread discontentment over the sudden relocation of their polling booth on the eve of the elections.

For years, voters from Group 3 have been accustomed to casting their ballots at the nearby Swadhin Bazaar High School. However, this electoral cycle has brought about an unexpected change, with their polling station relocated to a different school nearly 5 kilometers away.

This abrupt shift has sparked outrage among the electorate, who view it as a gross inconvenience and an affront to their democratic rights.

Among the aggrieved populace, concerns are particularly acute for segments of the community such as women, young people, and the elderly.

The considerable distance to the new polling station presents a formidable obstacle for these demographics, raising serious doubts about their ability to participate in the electoral process effectively.

Adding fuel to the fire, residents have raised allegations regarding the controversial nature of the new polling booth. Their demands are unequivocal: they insist on the restoration of their original polling stations without delay.

Failure to meet this demand, they are now in a mass boycott of today's elections, signaling a significant setback for the electoral process in the region.