Assam not included in this round... ECI to 'issue separate order'

Election Commission of India on Monday announced the second phase of the pan-India special intensive revision of electoral rolls for 12 states and UTs, however, Assam, scheduled for assembly elections next year, has been left out.

Chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said, "There are separate provisions for Assam's citizenship in law, and a drive to check valid citizens has already been done under the Supreme Court's observation. A separate order for SIR in Assam will be issued." He said under the supervision of the top court, the checking of citizenship in Assam is about to be completed. "The 24th SIR order was for the entire country. Under such circumstances, this would not have been applicable to Assam."

Earlier in the day, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said his government will welcome ECI move to carry out SIR in the state. He had recently visited New Delhi and discussed SIR with BJP's national leadership amid concerns of "faulty" National Register of Citizens. Aimed at weeding out illegal immigrants, NRC is an SC-monitored exercise. BJP has been upset over NRC, claiming that the authority refused to accept refugee certificates issued before 1971, as a result a large number of Bengali Hindus, Koch Rajbonshi and Buddhists were excluded from NRC.