The family from Phulaguri Nepali Paam in the Sonitpur LS constituency is, perhaps, one of the largest to exercise their franchise in the state this poll season. Ron Bahadur is survived by 12 sons and nine daughters from five wives.He has also left behind more than 56 grandchildren.
Til Bahadur Thapa, headman of Nepali Paam village and son of the late Ron Bahadur, said: “In 1906, my father, 19 then, migrated from Nepal and settled here. From the 12 of us (brothers), he had 56 grandchildren. I don’t know the exact number of grandchildren from my (nine) sisters. Nearly 350 of us can vote.”
Til Bahadur said he and his seven of the 12 brothers still alive will have a family meeting. “There are differences of opinion. As the younger ones seek our advice, we will have the meeting. The decision will be communicated to other members. Then it is up to them to decide who they wish to cast their votes for,” Til Bahadur said.
Not all in the family will be able to vote, though. “About 20-25 of our children are in private jobs in Bengaluru, Guwahati and Arunachal Pradesh. Although the ones in Arunachal and Guwahati might come, those in Bengaluru earn meagre salaries and cannot afford to come,” Til Bahadur said. Elections to Assam’s 14 LS seats will take place on April 19, April 26 and May 7.
If Ron Bahadur’s kin have grabbed attention in Assam, late Ziona’s family is a talking point in Mizoram with over 200 members. Ziona, who died in 2021, had 39 wives.