Major Vote Boycott Threats Surface in Katigorah Over Polling Centre Relocation

With the Panchayat elections in Cachar district scheduled for May 2, poll boycott threats have once again emerged from various parts of Katigorah constituency. Residents from multiple villages have expressed strong dissatisfaction over the relocation of polling stations and have warned of abstaining from voting if their concerns are not addressed. The primary voice of opposition surfaced from Damcherra and Siddheshwarpur panchayat areas of Katigorah on Tuesday. 

On Tuesday, villagers from Damcherra-Kashiband area in Chandranathpur Part V of Katigorah staged a protest against the shifting of their polling booth. The villagers, previously part of the Borkhola constituency, were included under Katigorah after delimitation. Their former polling centre, Damcherra LP School, has now been moved to Bandarkhal, around 15 kilometres away. The locals, who live in a hilly and remote area with no proper roads or transport, alleged that reaching the new location is nearly impossible.

“There is no motorable road. We don’t even have proper walkable roads also. In this condition, how can we walk 15 kilometres to cast our vote?” asked one protester, issuing a stern warning that the community will boycott the polls unless the decision is reconsidered.

Adding to their grievances, a local resident said, “Yesterday there was incessant rainfall in the area and for that we couldn’t get out of our homes. The roads are bad, there is mud and dilapidated condition. There are no vehicles running and in this situation how can we go to vote during the rainy season with such roads? One train goes from our village at a suitable time with which we can go to vote but for that train also we will have to walk 6 kilometres and even if we take this train, how will we return? There is no return train before night.”

A similar protest erupted in Gangapur village under Siddheshwar Gaon Panchayat, where over 200 voters voiced their anger over being shifted from Ward No. 6 to Ward No. 8. Their new polling station—Moruira LP School (Centre No. 680)—is also around 15 km away from the village. The villagers stated they have always voted in Ward No. 6 and the sudden shift has created logistical nightmares.

Despite bringing the issue to the attention of the Katigorah Block Development Officer and the District Magistrate, the villagers allege that no concrete response has been received. “We demand the polling centre be relocated to a nearby location. Otherwise, we will not participate in the election,” said a local of the Siddheshwarpur GP.

As political parties intensify their campaigning in the final phase, the rising discontent in Katigorah poses a serious challenge for the administration and the Election Commission. The villagers have urged the authorities to take swift action to ensure their democratic rights are not denied due to administrative oversight.