SILCHAR, Oct 20: The draft electoral rolls of the seven assembly constituencies of Cachar which were published on Friday showed 3.17 per cent rise in the number of voters from the last assemblypolls of 2011. While the total number of voters in 2011 was9,68,080, on the date of publication for 2012 it accounted for 9,98,735. In all, there has been an increase of 30,655 voters in the updated draft rolls. The draft rolls were brought out by the electoral registration officers of the seven constituencies ofSilchar, Sonai, Dholai (SC), Udharbond, Lakhipur, Borkhola and Katigorah. In the preparation of the draft rolls, 7 electoral registration officers and 59 assistant electoral officers were involved. The highest numberof voters is in Silchar which is around 1,99,198.
Constituency wise increase in the number of voters has been highest in Katigorah (5,217), followed by Silchar (4,886), Borkhola (4,778), Sonai (4,240), Udharbond (4,160), Dholai (4,116) and Lakhipur (3,158). Significantly, of the 1,99,198 voters in the draft rolls, 1,68,788 could be included in the data base with photographs. Dholai has the highest data base of voters with photographs which counts for 95.99 per cent. Thenumber of polling stations is 1,161 with no change from the last assembly polls. The total number of male voters is 5,27,218 and that of female4,71,517. The final draft roll will be published on January 23, 2013.
The information about the draft electoral rolls of 2012 was shared with the representatives of various political parties and mediapersons in the conference hall by the DeputyCommissioner of Cachar, Harendra Kumar Dev Mahanta, along with election officer, Ranjit Kumar Laskar and ADC, Arunabh Dey. Claims and objections would be received from October 19 to November 19. All relevant information about the draft electoral rolls could be knownon October 26 and October 29through GPs and other local media. Booth level social campaign by political parties would be taken up on October 27, November 3 and November 10. Disposal of claims and objections would be settled by December 19.
Database updating, supplementary list as well as photo related works would continue from December 19 of this year till January 17 of 2013. All necessary steps have been taken to include the photographs of those left out in the draft electoral rolls.A help line has been put in operation in this regard with contact number 03842-233983. The Parliamentary elections of 2014 would be held on the basis of photo electoral rolls. Till date the photographs of 89.90 per cent voters have been included in the draft rolls. Interestingly the number of male and female voters is more or less balanced. While male voters count for 15,921, the female 14,734, the difference being only by the margin of 1,187 voters.
In respect of the 'D' voters, RKLaskar, election officer, said those who have been declared Indian citizens by the Foreigners' Tribunals will be included in the final electoral rolls. The total number of 'D' voters includingmale and female could not beknown. It is to be recollected that in the assembly electionsof 2011, 6,149 'D' voters wereidentified, of them 2,606 were male and 3,543 female. The highest number of 'D' voters were in Katigorah whocounted for 1,544. (SENTINELASSAM)