Dual voting rights along Asom-Meghalaya border

SHILLONG, Feb 27 : The bye-elections to Umroi Legislative Assembly in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya unveiled the double-voting rights of at least 1,800 people residing in 11 border villages in Karbi-Anglong district. These villagers are from Umthli, Umwang, Madanumwang, Khliehumwang Letpatung, Sabuda, Umsohlaper, Umsder and Jatalong. Although, they brought with them the EPICs issued by the Meghalaya Government, they also have EPICs provided by Asom.

This was discovered today after hundreds of voters from these far-flung villages under Karbi Anglong trek to Mawlasnai polling booth in Ri-Bhoi district today chosen among the candidates from the Congress, the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the HSPDP as their representatives to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.

Moreover, they also admitted they cast their votes during the last Asom LA elections and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) elections. Besides knowing the candidates contesting in the Umroi bye-polls in Meghalaya, they are also aware of their own MLA from Chynthung constituency of Asom. They called their MLA to Asom Assembly as ‘Ma’ Rongpi and know Pradip Rongpi as their representative in the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC).

Interestingly, most of these villagers have enjoyed double voting rights since the creation of Meghalaya. A villager of Umwang told The Sentinel in Sabuda today, “I have been casting my votes during the Asom elections as well as the Meghalaya elections for the past 20 years”, even as he cited that there are many who have done the same in the past many years. However, barring their little reference of a local member of the autonomous council, these villagers have seen only a bit development works from both the states (Asom and Meghalaya). The massive turnout of the electorates to the bye-elections showed the emotional attachment to Meghalaya, but they do not deny that they are living in a disputed area in Asom.

This morning, a group of electorates were stopped by Assam Police and CRPF personnel from walking to Mawlasnai to cast their votes, and it is learnt that the top officials from Shillong made a telephonic intervention later that things were smoothen.
In the afternoon, Additional Director General of Police B Kezo accompanied by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Eastern Range had a meeting with the officials from Asom at Sabuda. Sources said that the meeting agreed to allow the willing villagers from these villagers to go and cast their votes.