GUWAHATI: With the dust of the panchayat poll in Assam settling down, the state machinery is now contemplating on holding the North Cachar Hill Autonomous Council (NCHAC), Mising Autonomous Council (MAC), Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) and the Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council (SKAC) elections.
The ruling BJP in the State is upbeat, especially having foiled a clear anti-incumbency wave on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 during the just-concluded panchayat poll. After its recent Cabinet meeting, the ministers had a discussion on the autonomous council poll, albeit informally.
Meanwhile, the State Election Commission (SEC), it seems, is also in poll mode again. It wants to hold elections in the four autonomous councils where the polls are due. While the five-year terms of there of the four autonomous councils have already expired, the term of one is going to expire shortly. The SEC has already instructed the deputy commissioners to prepare the draft electoral rolls of the Mising Autonomous Council, the Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council and the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council for holding elections there. State Election Commissioner HN Bora recently visited Dima Hasao and took stock of the situation there from the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police. During his stay in the hill district, the DC let him know that the electoral roll of the NCHAC is ready.
Talking to The Sentinel, SEC HN Bora said: “The five-year terms of the NCHAC, SKAC and MAC have already been expired, and that of the RHAC is going to expire shortly. Now we’re contemplating on holding elections in the four autonomous councils in the New Year. The respective DCs have been instructed to prepare draft electoral rolls.”
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