In an important clarification for a large number of individuals whose names have been excluded from the final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Assam Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mukesh Sahu has stated that those persons whose names are included in electoral rolls would be able to cast their votes, reports The Economic Times.
The final draft of the NRC did not contain the names of around 40.37 lakh people, of which 36.28 lakh have filed claims for inclusion and 2 lakh have lodged their objections; hearings related to these grievances are currently underway at 1,436 centres in different parts of the state.
The Lok Sabha polls in Assam will be conducted in three phases on 11, 18 and 23 April. Sahu said that there are 2,17,60,604 eligible voters in the state, of which 7,06,489 are first-time voters.