Assam: A significant dispute has engulfed the Rupshi area of Dhubri district, Assam, following claims that a newly elected panchayat member, Habiba Begum, achieved her electoral success by providing inaccurate information during the nomination phase.
The core of the controversy centers on the assertion that Begum, who won the ward membership for 6 No. Sukatikhata (B) Unit village under 98 No. Rupshi Gaon Panchayat, purposefully omitted the birth of her third child, a detail that directly contravenes the established eligibility requirements for local body election candidates.
Official records indicate that Begum purportedly did not disclose the birth of her child, which occurred on February 21, 2023, within her submitted nomination affidavit. Electoral guidelines necessitate the full and accurate disclosure of personal and family details to maintain transparency in the candidate vetting process.
This alleged failure to disclose information has ignited substantial public anger, leading to demonstrations by Sukatikhata village residents who are demanding the immediate annulment of Begum’s election results. A formal complaint has been filed with the Dhubri Election Returning Officer, accusing the elected member of electoral impropriety and requesting a thorough and unbiased investigation.
“It is unacceptable that someone would seek public office by concealing crucial facts,” voiced a local protestor. “We are concerned that there may have been some form of collusion in the acceptance of these nomination papers. This severely damages the trust we place in our democratic processes.”
The affected villagers are now demanding accountability from the electoral officials, arguing that the integrity of the nomination verification process has potentially been compromised. The demonstrators are also advocating for a high-level investigation to determine if any election officials were complicit in facilitating the alleged misrepresentation.
While the pressure mounts, the Dhubri Election Returning Officer has yet to issue an official statement on the matter. Nevertheless, the growing unrest among voters and civic groups is prompting increasing calls for prompt administrative action and a transparent inquiry.
“The government must protect the sanctity of our electoral system,” stated a representative of the protesters. “If these allegations are proven true, stringent legal actions must be taken.”
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