Election commissioner rules out early poll in Assam

GUWAHATI - The Election Commission Wednesday ruled out early polls in Assam, but said the issue of illegal Bangladeshi nationals getting themselves enrolled on the voters’ lists was a matter of serious concern.

“There is no likelihood of early elections in Assam and such a possibility is nowhere in the horizon,” Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi told journalists.

Quraishi and V.S. Sampath, another Election Commissioner, are in Guwahati on a two-day visit to take part in a meeting of electoral officers of the eight northeastern states Thursday. Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla will join the meeting Thursday.

Quraishi, however, expressed concern over apprehensions by various pressure groups and political parties about illegal Bangladeshi nationals getting their names listed in the electoral rolls.

“We are taking it seriously and would surely discuss in the meeting,” Quraishi said.

The issue of foreign nationals, especially illegal Bangladeshi migrants, has always been a major political issue in Assam with parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), and student groups like the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) claiming that the voters’ lists were not free of names of illegal migrants.

The opposition parties have always accused the Congress party of patronizing illegal Bangladeshis for vote bank politics.

The top election officials would hold detailed discussions on issuing photo identity cards and working out logistics for next year’s polls.

“We would review the entire process and look at the preparedness for the elections. The poll mode begins a year in advance and hence our visit to Assam,” Quraishi said.