Displaced Voters to Cast Ballots at Former Forest Home in Assam
In a poignant democratic exercise, nearly 1,000 evicted voters are set to return to the Paikan Reserve Forest in Assam's Goalpara district on April 9. Their purpose is not to reclaim the land they once inhabited but to exercise their franchise at the very location from which they were displaced seven months ago.
Decades of Occupation and Recent Eviction
For decades, these families occupied approximately 140 hectares (around 1,000 bighas) of forest land before being evicted in July 2025. The eviction drive, conducted jointly by the forest department and Goalpara district administration, affected about 1,080 families, predominantly Bangladesh-origin migrant Muslims from nearby districts.
Despite their displacement, their names remain on the electoral roll of Paikan, which falls under the Goalpara East constituency. This administrative continuity has created a unique situation where voters must return to their former settlement to participate in the electoral process.
Polling Station Transformed into Forest Office
The designated polling station, Bidyapara ME School, ceased to exist after the eviction and has since been converted into a forest department office. However, election officer Pallabi Borah confirmed that the forest department will vacate the premises temporarily to facilitate voting.
"Most of the families have been taking shelter either at their relative's place or in rented lodgings along the fringes of the reserve forest since their eviction in July last year," Borah explained. "They are still enrolled in the electoral roll under Bidyapara ME School polling station, which has 1,497 voters in two wings."
Symbolic Act of Belonging and Democratic Right
The return of displaced voters to their old settlement on polling day is expected to be emotionally charged. For many, casting their ballot at Bidyapara is not merely a democratic duty but a symbolic act of belonging—a tangible reminder of the land they once called home.
Nur Jaman Ahmed, the booth level officer (BLO) of the Bidyapara ME School (Right Wing) polling station, reported that there are 809 voters under his jurisdiction, including 365 evicted from the forest land. "The district administration has kept the polling booth at the school, which ceased to exist after the eviction, as there was very little time for the election. They might change it for future polls," he noted.
Similarly, Iman Ali Mirza, the BLO of the polling booth's left wing, stated that there are 688 voters in the electoral roll under his jurisdiction, including 620 evicted voters. Mirza emphasized that the voters have not shifted their names from the electoral roll despite their displacement. "They will cast their vote at the polling booth at the school, which is a government institution," he added.
Personal Stories of Displacement and Resilience
Johrul Sheikh, evicted from Bidyapara village, shared his family's plight: "We do not have land in other parts of the state, so we are still taking shelter at a relative's house near the eviction site. The situation is similar for other evicted people. We will vote at the Bidyapara ME School, where we have been casting votes since moving here about four decades ago."
This narrative underscores the broader challenges faced by displaced communities, who continue to maintain their electoral ties to their former homes while grappling with uncertain living conditions.
Political Landscape in Goalpara East Constituency
The Goalpara East constituency will witness a competitive electoral battle among key candidates:
- Abdul Rahim Zibran of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), a BJP ally
- Abul Kalam Rasheed Alam of the Congress
- Hafiz Bashir Ahmed of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF)
The participation of evicted voters adds a layer of complexity to this contest, highlighting issues of land rights, displacement, and democratic inclusion in Assam's political discourse.
As these voters return to Paikan Reserve Forest on April 9, their ballots will serve as a powerful testament to resilience and the enduring right to vote, even in the face of profound personal upheaval.
