Assam's Key By-Election Schedule Announced: Details and Implications

Assam's Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goel announced that the final electoral roll for by-elections in five assembly constituencies will be published on August 8. The bypolls in Dholai, Sidli, Bongaigaon, Behali, and Samaguri follow the vacating of seats by MLAs who won Lok Sabha elections. Preparations are underway, including the sharing of pre-draft electoral rolls with political parties.

Assam's Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goel on Friday announced the final electoral roll for the upcoming by-elections in five assembly constituencies will be published on August 8.

Addressing a press conference, Goel stated these bypolls will occur in Dholai (SC), Sidli (ST), Bongaigaon, Behali, and Samaguri after the constituencies' MLAs were elected to the Lok Sabha.

Goel highlighted that preparation work for the by-election has commenced and must be conducted within six months of the Lok Sabha results. He added that the bypolls would adhere to pre-delimitation status.

These Lok Sabha elections were the first post-delimitation in Assam, an exercise criticized by opposition parties as benefiting the ruling BJP.

The Election Department will share pre-draft electoral rolls with recognized political parties on Saturday. Feedback is expected by July 27.

Draft rolls will be published on July 30, with claims and objections accepted until August 10. The final roll will be published on August 20 after addressing any claims and objections.

Goel suggested the bypolls might take place in September, depending on the Election Commission's schedule. This election affects seats previously held by prominent politicians now serving as Lok Sabha MPs.

Among those transitioning to the Lok Sabha are BJP's Parimal Suklabaidya and Ranjit Dutta, Asom Gana Parishad's Phani Bhusan Choudhury, and United People's Party Liberal's Joyanta Basumatary. Congress MP Rakibul Hussain, winner of the Dhubri Lok Sabha seat, was an MLA from Samaguri.

(With inputs from agencies.)