(Reopens CAL7)

"Of the 552 polling station in RHAC, including 308 in Goalpara and 244 in Kamrup Rural, polling took place in 381 booths," the chief minister said. "That means that a majority of the electorate were supporting the polls and is a clear indication of the democratic spirit," Gogoi said, adding, over 70 per cent polling took place. Regarding prospects for repoll in the remaining 171 polling stations in RHAC areas where voting could not take place, Gogoi said that the priority was to maintain law and order. "As for repoll, it is for the State Election Commission to decide the timings," he said. He said the state government was committed to holding polls to the RHAC in the near future. "Panchayat polls and elections for autonomous councils are two different things. However, both deal with decentralisation of power and we are committed to the idea of decentralisation," Gogoi said. The Rabha Hasong Joint Action Committee had demanded holding of RHAC polls and opposed panchayat polls in the RHAC areas. "We are under constitutional obligation to hold panchayat polls in the RHAC areas. Only in areas under Sixth Schedule are panchayat polls not held. Areas under autonomous councils are not outside the panchayati raj system," the chief minister said. "While Autonomous Councils are for tribal people, panchayats are for all citizens in rural areas," he added. Asked if his government would accept the request of the RHJAC to declare the RHAC as Sixth Schedule area, Gogoi said the decision lay with the central government.