Gill's visit follows a series of agitational programmes initiated by the All Assam Students Union, and a memorandum on the subject submitted to Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on Tuesday. The memorandum was submitted by the apex body of students' organisations in the region: the North-East Students Union.
Gill yesterday said the Election Commission was aware of the problem, and that he had every sympathy for the students. Incidentally, the commission's stand on the presence of names of foreign nationals in Assam's voters list has been oft quoted by the student organisations. It was former chief election commissioner S L Shakdhar who first admitted the presence of names of foreign nationals in the list during the uproar preceding the byelection to the Mangaldoi constituency in 1978, and which sparked off the six-year agitation. During his visit, he is expected to grant an audience to various organisations, and also meet governor Lok Nath Mishra and Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta.
If we can contribute anything to correct the voters, and improve matters that lie within the commission's jurisdiction, we would be happy to do so, Gill said. The ruling AGP has appealed to the AASU to agree to a possible revision after the byelections.
on October 11. The AASU's stand has already led to some tension. A clash has been reported between AASU activists and AGP workers during an election meeting of the public works minister Atul Bora in Dispur constituency.
Bora has to be elected to the Assembly within six months, and this byelection for him is crucial. Election in the Dispur constituency was countermanded due to the death of former Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia on the eve of elections in April. Byelections are being held to five assembly constituencies.
