Fear of violence has been the predominant factor in earlier elections in Assam for two decades, but the 2006 Assembly polls will stand out for the absence of militant-sponsored violence in the state.
Elections -- whether for the state Assembly or Lok Sabha has been marked by poll boycott calls by the militant outfits, particularly by the United Liberation Front of Asom.
During the 2001 Assembly elections, the banned ULFA targeted the Asom Gana Parishad and Bharatiya Janata Party workers, killing 37 people.
This year, militant sponsored violence was non-existent during campaigning for the first phase.
In a clear departure from earlier elections, ULFA announced that it will maintain equidistance from all political parties and also warned the parties not to use the outfit's name for their political benefit.
Instead of a poll boycott, ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa appealed to the people to vote for parties committed to resolve the issue of Assam's sovereignty.
The banned National Democratic Front of Bodoland, which is currently observing a ceasefire, has also announced that it would take a neutral stand in the forthcoming polls and not support any political party.
NDFB leader Govinda Basumatary said they were not supporting any party and the voters must exercise their franchise "as their conscience allows".
Both the ULFA and NDFB are, however, sceptical about the elections and have termed it as a routine exercise that has failed to solve the problems of the state.
Insurgency, however, tops the agenda of all political parties and they have made promises to resolve the 27-year-old problem.
© 2026