Muslim-majority districts record rise in numbers as Assam electoral roll shows 0.97% dip

A booth level officer (BLO) interacts with a voter during verification of voter identification cards as part of 'Special Revision' (SR) of electoral rolls of Assam, in Guwahati

• Assam's electoral roll shrank by 0.97% after a special revision exercise
• Barpeta, Morigaon, and Bongaigaon saw the highest rise in electors
• Alleged harassment of minorities during revision sparks controversy.

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The three Assam districts that recorded the highest percentage rise in electors after the special revision exercise are Muslim-majority, according to a report by Hindustan Times.

Analysing the data released by the state on Wednesday, the HT report stated that the state’s electoral roll declined by 0.97% following the exercise.

Figures published by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Tuesday showed that the number of electors stood at 2.60 million as of February 10, down from 2.69 million on December 27, 2025.

Of the state’s 35 districts, 10 registered an increase in electors. Barpeta saw the highest growth at 3.3%, followed by Morigaon (0.7%) and Bongaigaon (0.6%). Barpeta and Morigaon were Muslim-majority districts as per the 2011 Census, though Barpeta was later bifurcated to create Bajali district.

The 10 districts that recorded growth are Barpeta, Morigaon, Bongaigaon, Goalpara, Dhubri, Nagaon, Hailakandi, Bajali, Majuli and South Salmara.

Assam had 27 districts at the time of the 2011 Census. However, it now has 35. In 2011, seven districts — Barpeta, Morigaon, Bongaigaon, Goalpara, Dhubri, Nagaon and Hailakandi — had a Muslim majority. Bajali, Majuli and South Salmara were carved out subsequently. Muslims formed a majority in all these districts at the time of the Census.

In absolute terms, the state’s electoral roll contracted by 243,485 names, or 0.97%, after the special revision.

Meanwhile, the two districts with the highest share of Muslim population — Karimganj and Dhubri — registered declines of 3.2% and 2.8%, respectively, in their electoral rolls.

According to the HT report,  32 of Assam’s 126 Assembly constituencies reported an increase in electors in the final rolls.

The state is scheduled to go to the polls this year.

The HT report stated that in absolute terms, the districts which witnessed the most shrinking of electoral rolls are Sribhumi, Chachar and Kamrup metro.

Meanwhile, there was an increase in electors in Barpeta, Nagaon and Dhubri.

The SR exercise had stirred much controversy in the state, with opposition parties alleging that it was being used for “vote theft” and genuine citizens, particularly of a religious minority community, were being harassed during the process.

The key reason why the Election Commission (EC), which announced the second phase of the pan-India Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls covering 12 states and UTs has kept Assam out of their ambit, is that a stricter National Register of Citizens (NRC) is already in place in the state.