But two things have remained consistent in the dynamics of fast-changing electoral politics the great march and unconventional modes of transportation used by election officials and security personnel to reach remote polling centres across the state.
Like the past, this time, too, hectic preparations are on for election officials to embark on a long, treacherous and painstaking trek through some of the inaccessible hilly terrains to reach their destinations. Besides, unconventional modes of transportation like bullock carts and boats are also being readied for ferrying poll officials to booths located in areas where roads are not fit for vehicular movement.
In some constituencies of the hilly and thickly forested Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong districts, poll officials had embarked on a long march in elections held in the past. This time also they are going to do the same.
Out of 189 polling booths in Haflong (Scheduled Tribe reserved) constituency in Dima Hasao district, at least 69 are located in remote areas. Many of them are accessible only by foot and over 100 porters accompany poll officials for ferrying election materials to these places. The total number of voters in Haflong is 1,30, 390.
Though some booths can be reached on vehicles, the journey is back-breaking and tiresome because of bad road condition. Again, if the weather god becomes unkind, then there is no other option other than embarking on a long foot march.
However, the most arduous of such treks in Haflong constituency is to reach Jinam Valley. Jinam, bordering Cachar district in southern Assam, is one of the most picturesque locations in Dima Hasao. There are at least six polling booths in the valley and reaching there takes almost three days even though the distance from district headquarters Haflong is less than 100 km.
Poll officials will have to travel to Silchar first and then head for Jinam Valley. The entire route to reach polling stations in the valley has to be covered on foot. "The total travelling time to reach Jinam takes almost three days. Officials will have to trek through Jinam Valley to reach their destinations. We are using porters to carry poll materials," said Dima Hasao district electoral officer D K Barthakur.
Hamren is another such constituency in the hilly Karbi Anglong district. "There are about 32 booths within a stretch of 10 km in Hamren constituency which is very remote. So, porters are the only means to transport poll materials," said Hamren district electoral officer Ikramul Hussain.
The mode of transportation is equally troublesome in some polling booths located in the plain areas. There are polling booths, mostly in sand islands dotting the Brahmaputra, where there are no proper roads. So, poll officials have to depend on bullock carts, tractors and boats.
In earlier elections elephants were used to transport officials and poll materials to remote and inaccessible booths. However, jumbos are not being used this time. "We are not using elephants this time. Depending on the remoteness and inaccessibility, we are using bullock carts, tractors and boats. There are areas in Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong where trekking is the only way to reach polling booths," said deputy chief electoral officer K J Hilaly.
With the first phase of assembly election round the corner, politicians are making tall claims of ushering in development in the state. But poor connectivity, which has again come to the fore while discussing the plight of officials on election duty, is a reminder that many backward areas in the state are yet to reap the fruits of development. This has also belied the claims of politicians of progress.
"Till today, poll officials and security personnel have to walk for long distances to reach their destinations. It clearly shows that development, especially road connectivity, hasn't been properly taken care of. This is a stark reminder of underdevelopment plaguing many parts of the state," said former Assam DGP N Changkakoti.