Many citizens with EPIC found their names missing in voter list, claims APHLC

DIPHU — The All Party Hills Leaders Conference (APHLC) party has claimed that many people were deprived of exercising their adult franchise when the 6-Diphu (ST) Parliamentary Constituency in Assam went to polls in the second phase of Lok Sabha election 2024 on April 26, as their names were found missing in the voter list despite possessing Voter ID or Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC).

This allegation was made by JI Kathar, the APHLC president and the party-backed independent candidate for the constituency.

“It is a known fact that Karbi Anglong is a sixth schedule district, where only scheduled tribe people have voting rights and to contest election and the APHLC have been demanding for deletion of names of non-scheduled tribe voters from the voter lists of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC). But before this could happen, it is the scheduled tribe voters that have lost their voting rights. Those possessing the Voter ID or EPIC, their names have been ‘deleted or cancelled’ from voter lists.

“Due to this omission of names, they could not cast their votes in the concluded second phase of Lok Sabha election under the 6 – Diphu (ST) Parliamentary Constituency. We heard that it is the BLOs that have done it. We are registering our complaint by submitting a memorandum by post to the Chief Election Commissioner of India,” he alleged.

He went to allege that CEM Tuliram Ronghang-led KAAC team had violated the model code of conduct (MCC) by going on am 8-day tour of Vietnam at the expense of public exchequer by withdrawing an amount of INR 14 crore from the department of Panchayat & Rural Development (P&RD).

‘When teachers are not getting salary and contract bills not cleared amid deplorable road condition, the KAAC team of 30 people comprising CEM, EMs and MACs, without bothering the plight of the people, spent lavishly by touring Vietnam,” he claimed.

“We are against such practices. This point has also been mentioned in our memorandum to the Chief Election Commission,” he added

He went on to stress the need for setting up polling stations at a distance of 2 km, as per ECI guidelines to facilitate the voters, pointing out that about 40, 000 voters, who have migrated to other big cities and towns for skilled and unskilled labour, could not come home to cast their votes during the election.

DC briefs on vote counting

Meanwhile, the District Election Officer and District Commissioner of Karbi Anglong, Madhumita Bhagawati, informed during a press briefing that preparations relating to counting of votes for Diphu constituency, which will start from 8 am on June 4, have been completed.

Voting counting will be held at ISBT, Chutianala for Karbi Anglong, Government HS School for Bokajan, Hamren Govt. HS School for West Karbi Anglong, and Haflong DC office for Dima Hasao.