Assam voters are put off by more than ULFA

JORHAT, February 9: Voters in the four Upper Assam districts of Jorhat, Sibsagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukhia, which were considered to be a str...

JORHAT, February 9: Voters in the four Upper Assam districts of Jorhat, Sibsagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukhia, which were considered to be a stronghold of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), are likely to defy the outfit’s call to boycott the elections.

The authorities are expecting violence in some pockets, which are reported to be under the influence of the militants. State Chief Secretary V S Jafa and State Police chief K Hrishikeshan are conducting a hurricane tour of the areas, instructing district authorities to ensure a large voter turnout on polling day, which is on February 16.

In some Assembly segments like Mahmora and Thowra, ULFA cadre are reported to have warned the people against venturing out on that day. “Some boys came to our village and threatened that they would chop off our fingers if they found it marked by the black voters’ ink. But the Army, on the other hand, have warned that they would come and check whether we have voted or not,” said a local youth of Sepon, about75 km from here.

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The ULFA diktat banning electioneering, which was issued last week, has not hampered campaigning. “Our candidate Dulal Barua has been freely campaigning without any hurdle or obstruction,” said Diti Borah, chief campaign manager of the Janata Dal candidate for the prestigious Jorhat seat.

In fact, despite the ULFA ban, all the seven candidates in Jorhat constituency are involved in hectic campaigning. While the AGP chief and Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta addressed at least two meetings to whip up support for party candidate Debo Kumar Borah, the Congress and the BJP have also been campaigning without any hindrance so far.

“But the voter turnout is likely to be low this time,” said Abani Borgohain, a leading tea planter in the area. “First, because the Lok Sabha polls without the Assembly elections become less interesting and second, because, despite the unhindered campaigning, people will definitely think twice before defying the ban and casting their votes,” headded.

The ban has not affected the tea plantations, which have been the Congress’ domain for decades. “The tea estates are guarded by security personnel. Moreover, since the polling stations are inside the well-guarded plantation area, nobody would dare to come inside and threaten the voters,” said another planter. This gives the Congress ample scope to sweep the two Upper Assam seats of Jorhat and Dibrugarh, both of which are dominated by tea labourers.

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“While the Election Commission and the government has been carrying out a popular campaign over Doordarshan asking the people all over the country to cast their votes without any fear, there is simply no effort in Assam to inspire or assure the voters here,” said Hemanta Barman, editor of Dainik Janambhoomi, a popular vernacular daily here.

The people fear that the ULFA will clamp a “janata curfew” on polling day. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mahanta has asked the Centre to despatch about 500 additional companies of Central forces or to hold theAssam elections in phases.