Mising Autonomous Council Elections Delayed Again as Term Extended

Extension of Mising Autonomous Council Term

Dhemaji, July 23: In response to increasing calls from various organizations within the Mising community for the election of the Mising Autonomous Council (MAC), the State government has announced an extension of its term for an additional year.

The notification from the Department of Tribal Affairs (Plains) indicated that the electoral process for the MAC elections remains incomplete due to the addition of four general council constituencies following the recent delimitation exercise. The Assam State Election Commission has begun the process of gathering information on Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to update and publish the electoral roll by constituency, but the elections could not be finalized before the current term of the elected general council expired, as stated in the notification.

According to the notification, the inaugural meeting of the current elected general council of MAC took place on February 11, 2019, with their term set to conclude on February 10, 2024. Previously, the State government had extended the MAC's term for six months under the provisions of the Mising Autonomous Council Act, 1995 (amended), which validated it until August 10, 2024. A similar extension was issued prior to the expiration of the MAC's extended term on February 10 of this year. The State government has been unable to conduct elections for the council over the past five months.

In light of these developments, the Department of Tribal Affairs (Plains) has established an interim committee for the MAC, appointing Sunil Pegu as Chairman, Paramananda Chayengia as Chief Executive Councillor, along with 32 general council members.

This committee will operate until the general council elections are conducted or until further notice is given.