ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how elections give a special status and power to the marginalised poor in places like rural Assam. It shows how an ordinary milieu changes into an unusual site during the time of elections and analyses the entire process of elections as a ritual and magical performance. For the Panchayat election, party workers gave full energy and effort to make meetings a success. Congress party leader and Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma were considered to be the star campaigner for his party, while Badruddin Ajmal was leading from the front for AIUDF. The event where Ajmal was expected to address the public rally for the Panchayat elections was no less than a magical event. People came in a festive mood on the day of the election. The chapter concludes by suggesting that to understand more on the cultural aspects of the democratic election process, there is a need to focus more on the performative communication aspect as well.
