Villagers in Assam’s Bamunjhar Village End 20-Year Voting Boycott
Guwahati, 26th April: After a 20-year hiatus, residents of Bamunjhar village in Assam’s Darrang-Udalguri Lok Sabha constituency have resumed participation in the voting process. The polling, held at Bamunjhar Primary School, saw a significant turnout as villagers exercised their democratic rights during the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
Comprising 15 percent Boro and 85 percent non-Boro population, the village had abstained from voting in protest against its inclusion in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). Despite assurances from the Assam government regarding their exclusion from the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), no action was taken, leading to the prolonged boycott.
With around 2000 inhabitants, Bamunjhar had refrained from participating in any electoral processes, including Assembly and council elections, for two decades. However, this election marks a significant shift in their stance, as they participate for the first time since the formation of the BTR.
Meanwhile, as of 9 am, the voter turnout in Assam stood at 9.71 percent, with the highest turnout in Diphu at 14.13 percent, and the lowest in Silchar at 5.49 percent.
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