Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently declared that individuals evicted from encroached government lands would have their names struck off the voter lists of the areas where they were residing illegally. This has sparked intense debate, raising critical questions about the intersection of land rights, citizenship, and democratic participation in the country. Sarma’s move, framed as a measure to protect Assam’s indigenous communities and curb alleged demographic changes, appears to disproportionately target Bengali-speaking Muslims, often vilified as “infiltrators” or “Bangladeshi immigrants.”
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Home | India | Opinion After Bihar Assams Voter List Purge A Dangerous Precedent For Democracy
Opinion: After Bihar, Assam’s voter list purge — A dangerous precedent for democracy
By tying voter rights to eviction, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is casting doubt on the legitimacy of citizens who have already navigated the arduous NRC process
BY TELANGANA TODAY
PUBLISHED DATE – 5 SEPTEMBER 2025, 10:25 PM
Opinion: After Bihar, Assam’s voter list purge — A dangerous precedent for democracy
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By Geetartha Pathak
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently declared that individuals evicted from encroached government lands would have their names struck off the voter lists of the areas where they were residing illegally. This has sparked intense debate, raising critical questions about the intersection of land rights, citizenship, and democratic participation in the country. Sarma’s move, framed as a measure to protect Assam’s indigenous communities and curb alleged demographic changes, appears to disproportionately target Bengali-speaking Muslims, often vilified as “infiltrators” or “Bangladeshi immigrants.”
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This approach not only risks disenfranchising vulnerable populations but also sets a troubling precedent for the erosion of constitutional rights under the guise of administrative action. After the large-scale deletion of names from voters’ lists in Bihar in the name of the Special Intensive Revision, BJP-ruled Assam has devised this new strategy which appears to be aimed at Muslims of the State. These moves indicate that the BJP and its allies fear facing fair democratic contests. Hence, they are resorting to voter disenfranchisement of communities unlikely to support them.
Complex History
Assam has a complex history of demographic tensions, fuelled by decades of migration, both historical and contemporary, particularly from Bangladesh. The State’s politics have long been shaped by anxieties over land, identity, and resources, with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) intensifying these debates. Since assuming office in May 2021, Sarma has overseen aggressive eviction drives, clearing approximately 1,19,548 bighas (160 sq km) of land and affecting around 50,000 people by July 2025. These drives, often justified as reclaiming government or forest land, have predominantly impacted Muslim communities, particularly those of Bengali origin, who are frequently labeled as illegal settlers.
The Assam Chief Minister’s rhetoric, including references to “land jihad” and an “invasion” by people of “one religion,” has added a communal dimension to these evictions. His latest policy of linking eviction to voter list deletion escalates this agenda, framing land encroachment not merely as a legal violation but as a threat to Assam’s cultural and political fabric. By targeting Upper and Northern Assam, where he claims “infiltrators” are now encroaching, Sarma positions himself as a defender of indigenous rights, a narrative that resonates with certain Assamese communities but alienates others.
Right to Vote
The right to vote is a cornerstone of India’s democratic framework, enshrined in Article 326 of the Constitution, which guarantees universal adult suffrage for citizens above 18. While the Election Commission of India (ECI) oversees voter list management, including the removal of names during periodic revisions, such actions must adhere to strict legal guidelines. Names can be deleted if a person is deceased, no longer resides in the constituency, or is disqualified (eg, declared a non-citizen by a Foreigners Tribunal). However, eviction from land, even if deemed illegal, does not automatically strip someone of citizenship or voting rights.
Former Chief Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa has stated that “eviction or demolition cannot deprive an eligible person of his right to vote,” emphasising that voting rights are tied to citizenship and residency, not property ownership. Sarma’s policy, which equates eviction with loss of voter status, appears to bypass these principles. In a notable case in Kachutali village of Kamrup district, over 1,000 residents — many evicted in a violent September 2024 drive — received notices threatening voter list deletion because they had “ceased to be ordinarily resident” in the constituency. This move, affecting one-third of the area’s voters, underscores the scale and intent of the policy.
concerns with the rights of all citizens. Instead, Sarma’s policy risks escalating conflict, alienating communities, and tarnishing India’s democratic credentials. The ECI must intervene to ensure that voter list revisions adhere to legal and constitutional standards, preventing arbitrary disenfranchisement.
By framing this policy in communal terms, targeting Bengali-speaking Muslims as “infiltrators,” Sarma not only deepens social divides but also challenges the constitutional principles that underpin India’s democracy. Voting is a fundamental right, not a privilege to be revoked at the whim of a State government.
As Assam navigates its complex demographic landscape, the focus must shift from divisive rhetoric to inclusive governance that upholds the rule of law and protects the rights of all its people. The nation watches, wary of the precedent this sets for democracy itself.
