Bamunjhar witnessed a remarkable turn of events as its villagers have ended their 20-year voting boycott by exercising their democratic right at the local primary school polling station during the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The village is located in Assam’s Darrang-Udalguri Lok Sabha constituency.
Bamunjhar, a village with population comprising 15 per cent Boro and 85 per cent non-Boro, had been refraining from the electoral process as a form of protest against its inclusion in the Bodoland Territorial Region or BTR.
The village, which houses close to 2,000 residents, had chosen not to take part in any electoral activities, including Assembly and council elections, for a time span covering two decades.
Despite the Assam Government’s assurance to keep their village out of the Bodoland Territorial Council or BTC, the villagers continued their boycott.
The recent election marks a noteworthy shift in the villagers’ stand, as it is their first participation since the formation of the BTR. This change signals a potential transformation in the political landscape of the region.
Meanwhile, as of 1 pm, Assam recorded a voter turnout of 46.31 per cent.
As far as the voter turnout in the constituencies are concerned, Diphu recorded 46.40 per cent, Darrang-Udalguri stood at 49.72 per cent while Karimganj, Nagaon and Silchar recorded 49.14 per cent, 44.48 per cent and 40.23 per cent respectively, till 1 pm.
