1. North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) elections are ongoing in Assam’s Dima Hasao.
2. The electoral process covers 28 constituencies in the district, starting at 8 PM.
3. Assam State Election Commission (ASEC) set up 280 polling stations for smooth conduct.

Dima Hasao, Jan 08: Voting is currently underway for the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) elections in Assam, specifically in Dima Hasao. The electoral process, spanning 28 constituencies within the Dima Hasao district, commenced at 8 PM today.

The Assam State Election Commission (ASEC) has diligently organized the election, designating 280 polling stations. Of these, 153 are marked as ‘comparatively safe,’ 100 as ‘sensitive,’ and 27 as ‘very sensitive.’ Notably, this election departs from recent practices as it foregoes the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Due to insufficient EVMs, traditional ballot boxes and papers will be employed. Alok Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner of Assam, has indicated ongoing discussions with the Electronic Corporation of India and government PSUs regarding future EVM availability.

The eligible electorate for this crucial event comprises 141,124 voters, demonstrating a nearly equal distribution between male and female voters. This reflects a notable increase of 15.45% since the previous council polls in 2019. Vote counting is scheduled for January 12, 2024, beginning at 8 am and continuing until completion, with results promptly declared on the same day.

The nomination filing window for candidates was open on December 21, 2023, with scrutiny occurring the following day. December 22, 2023, marked the deadline for withdrawal of candidature, after which the list of validly nominated candidates was published. In the event of necessity, repolling is scheduled for January 10, 2024.

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For voter identification, the photo electoral rolls published on November 10, 2023, will be employed. The electoral photo identity card remains the primary document for voter identification. With the election date announcement, the Model Code of Conduct has come into immediate effect in the NCHAC areas.

This election represents the 13th for the NCHAC in Dima Hasao, an area operating under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. The Congress party has unveiled its candidate list, aiming to make a substantial impact in the region.

Observers, including one special and three election observers, have been appointed to ensure the smooth conduct of the election, with their station located at Haflong until the election’s conclusion.