As Assam gears up for its upcoming panchayat elections, an unsettling pattern is beginning to surface—an increasing number of candidates are being elected uncontested. This raises critical questions about the sanctity and competitiveness of the electoral process at the grassroots level. Democracy thrives on choice. When voters are denied the opportunity to select their representatives due to a lack of opposition candidates, the entire exercise begins to lose meaning. Reports suggest that in several districts, political positions are being filled without contest, either because rival parties are unable to field candidates or due to the overwhelming dominance of a particular party. Whatever the reason, the outcome remains the same: a diluted democratic mandate.
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This is not the first time such a trend has appeared in local elections. Past panchayat polls in other states have shown similar patterns—West Bengal and Odisha have both seen alarming numbers of uncontested seats in recent years. Assam now seems to be heading down that same path. Uncontested victories might appear efficient on the surface, but they are deeply problematic. They rob citizens of their fundamental right to choose, stifle political debate, and create an environment where leaders are not held accountable. When elections become procedural formalities, democracy is reduced to a shell.
The Election Commission must take urgent measures to ensure that elections in Assam remain genuinely competitive. This includes encouraging wider participation, ensuring candidate safety, and actively addressing any barriers—political or procedural—that prevent free contestation. The essence of democracy lies in the power of the people to decide. Assam’s upcoming panchayat elections must not become a missed opportunity to reaffirm that power. The state deserves elections, not coronations.
