Hopes of development and good governance make 66-year-old Narendra Narzary of No. 2 Simlibari village under Sidli Assembly constituency cast his vote in every election.

Elections come and go but the situation in this remote part of the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD), which falls under Bengtol circle in Chirang district, has remained unchanged, all these years, with no signs of development.

The people of the area walk# for miles, take# a boat to cross the Aie river before reaching Tukrakjhar-Bengtol, the nearest market. Adding to their woe is the deplorable condition# of the main road, connecting Tukrajhar-Bengtol to the district headquarters, Kajalgaon, which has not been repaired for the last 15 years. The place is just 40km fromSimlibari but it takes nearly three hours to travel the distance.

"The only wish of the people in the area is better road communication - a bridge over the Aie - as it will end one of their major problems. It becomes extremely difficult for the people to cross the river, which swells up during the rainy season," said Dominique Basumatary, a social activist, who added that the area is the most backward.

IN DRY SEASON

 IN RAINY SEASON

The route is the lifeline and the only link for people of over 26 villages that are under two village council development committees (VCDCs) - Auguri and Patabari - to the nearest haat (bazaar) and the district headquarters, Kajalgaon, in Chirang district.

During winters, the villagers construct a temporary bamboo bridge, which makes it easier for them to cross the river, but during the monsoon the people suffer# with only the boat as an option to cross the unpredictable Aie. One has to pay Rs 10 (for a bicycle) and Rs 20 (for a bike) to cross the bridge in winter.

"During the monsoon, the area mostly remains cut off from the rest of the world," added Basumatary.

"We have to take the boat but it is risky when it rains in the foothills of Bhutan and the river swells up," said a villager.

She recalled how, in 2014, a pregnant woman from Patabari village died on her way to the hospital.

"Had there been a bridge, she would have survived," she said, adding "Only we know how we risk our lives every time we cross the river during the rainy season. There is always the risk of the boat capsizing as it happens each year. It's the pregnant women and patients who are the worst sufferers."

Echoing her, an elderly man said, "Even after 60 years of Independence, our area is underdeveloped on all fronts with no bridge or proper roads. First, we have to travel for about 2km through the barren, sandy route to reach the banks of the Aie and then cross the river by boat during the rainy season and use the bamboo bridge during winter to reach Bengtol, the nearest haat."

"We have stopped wishing for anything from the leaders who promise# big every election. But our hope for a bridge over the river Aie doesn't deter us from voting," said Suken Narzary of Patabari Goybari village, who supplies milk from the village to the nearest market in Bengtol.

Nestled in the foothills of Bhutan, Sidli is considered the most backward district dogged by various problems, including little access to drinking water, health facilitates or even electricity. The total number of voters in the constituency is 1,89,841 of whom 94,999 are male.

Bodos constitute over 60 per cent of the total population in this constituency, reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates, followed by Rajbongshis, Muslims, Nepalis, Adivasis and Bengalis.

Sitting MLA and former Assam transport and panchayat and rural development minister Chandan Brahma will be contesting on Bodoland People's Front (BPF) ticket for the third time, but this time he is likely to face a tough contest from former Absu president and BTC member Rwngwra Narzary of the United People's Party (UPP).

"I still nurture hopes that someday our area will be developed with better roads. There will be a bridge over the Aie and we don't have to suffer when crossing the river. That's why I keep voting every election," said Narendra Narzary, crossing the temporary bamboo bridge over the mighty river.