Shillong, June 30: The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) has urged indigenous organisations, political parties, contesting candidates, traditional institutions, youth bodies and citizens across the state to actively participate in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, describing it as a crucial constitutional exercise to safeguard the democratic and political rights of Meghalaya’s indigenous communities.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, CoMSO Chairman Roy Kupar Synrem said the Special Intensive Revision should not be viewed as a routine electoral process but as a rare opportunity to ensure that the electoral rolls remain accurate and free from ineligible or doubtful entries. “The purity of the electoral roll is the foundation of democracy. If the voters’ list is compromised, the very legitimacy of the democratic process is weakened,” Synrem said.
He noted that indigenous organisations have consistently raised concerns over illegal immigration, demographic changes and the possibility of non-genuine voters being included in the electoral rolls. According to him, the SIR provides a lawful and transparent mechanism to verify electoral records, remove duplicate and deceased voters, rectify anomalies and ensure that only legally eligible electors remain on the rolls.
CoMSO also appealed to every Dorbar Shnong, Nokma, traditional institution, village authority, community leader and polling area to remain vigilant throughout the verification process. It stated that these grassroots institutions, being most familiar with their localities, have a crucial role in identifying doubtful claims, duplicate entries and other irregularities through the legal process while ensuring that no genuine indigenous voter is wrongly excluded.
The organisation further called upon all political parties and contesting candidates to rise above partisan interests and work collectively to protect the integrity of the electoral rolls, stressing that the issue concerns the constitutional rights of every indigenous citizen rather than the interests of any political party.
Describing the exercise as a shared responsibility, Synrem said the future political representation of Meghalaya’s indigenous communities depends on the accuracy and credibility of the electoral rolls. He urged every eligible citizen to cooperate with the authorities and remain vigilant so that the electoral rolls genuinely reflect the state’s legitimate electorate.
