Guwahati, Aug 25, 2025: The Assam unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has demanded that the long-pending National Register of Citizens (NRC) be finalised before any revision of the state’s electoral rolls. The party argued that starting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) without a final NRC would undermine the integrity of Assam’s electoral process.
NRC Finalisation at the Core of CPI(M)’s Demand
CPI(M) leaders said the NRC, updated under Supreme Court monitoring, must be the foundation for preparing Assam’s voter lists. The party stated that lakhs of people were still waiting for clarity on their citizenship status. Unless the NRC is finalised, a fresh electoral roll could exclude genuine citizens or include doubtful voters, they warned.
The Left party also reminded that the final NRC has been pending with the Registrar General of India for nearly six years. The CPI(M) accused both the state and central governments of deliberately delaying the process.
Call for Fair and Transparent Electoral Process
Speaking at a press briefing in Guwahati, CPI(M) state secretary Suprakash Talukdar stressed that fair elections were not possible without a verified voter list. He said the party wanted the Election Commission to complete NRC finalisation before initiating the SIR of electoral rolls.
According to Talukdar, the failure to finalise the NRC would only fuel insecurity among communities in Assam. He said such lapses could also lead to large-scale disenfranchisement.
Assam’s NRC Controversy
The NRC exercise in Assam was conducted to identify illegal migrants, especially those who entered after 1971. The draft list published in 2018 excluded around 19 lakh applicants. The process created widespread debate and legal challenges.
The CPI(M) said ignoring NRC finalisation and proceeding with electoral revision would create confusion. It urged all democratic forces in Assam to unite and press for a transparent process that ensures citizens’ rights.
Political Implications Ahead of Elections
The CPI(M)’s demand comes at a time when Assam is preparing for upcoming electoral battles. Political parties, including the BJP and Congress, are already drawing strategies to consolidate their support bases.
Analysts believe that CPI(M)’s move is aimed at highlighting concerns of marginalised communities and positioning itself as a voice for electoral justice. The party may not hold major electoral strength in Assam, but its intervention could intensify debates around citizenship and voter rights.
Appeal to Election Commission and Government
The CPI(M) has called upon the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure that no citizen of Assam is left out of the voting process. The party demanded that the central government immediately clear the final NRC. And, make it the base document for electoral revisions.
Talukdar said the CPI(M) would continue to raise this issue through protests, memorandums, and public campaigns. He warned that ignoring the demand would damage people’s faith in democratic institutions.
Broader Context of Citizenship Debates
The issue of NRC finalisation is linked with wider debates over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and migration concerns in Assam. Many civil society organisations have echoed similar concerns, urging the government to address the uncertainty surrounding the NRC.
Observers believe that the CPI(M)’s demand could bring fresh focus to citizenship questions that have long shaped Assam’s politics. The coming months are expected to see more discussions on how NRC and electoral rolls should be aligned.