Dry Days declared in 11 districts in view of Mising and Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council elections in Assam

In view of the General Elections to the Mising Autonomous Council and the Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council, 2026, the Excise Department, Government of Assam, has declared Dry Days in 11 districts of the State.
As per the order issued by the Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Assam, Excise Department, the sale, distribution and consumption of liquor and other intoxicating substances have been strictly prohibited under Section 135C of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Rule 326(A) of the Assam Excise Rules, 2016, with effect from 48 hours prior to the polling, i.e., from November 28, 2026, until the completion of the polling process on November 30, 2026.
Accordingly, November 30, the day of polling, December 1, in the event of re-polling, and December 3, the day of counting of votes, will also be observed as Dry Days. The restrictions will remain in force until the completion of the counting process. The order will be applicable in Biswanath, Charaideo, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Sivasagar, Sonitpur and Tinsukia districts.
During the stipulated period, all wholesale liquor warehouses, retail ‘OFF’ and ‘ON’ shops dealing in Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), ‘ON’ shops attached to clubs and hotels, as well as country liquor shops, shall remain closed. No person or group of persons shall be permitted to possess, sell, distribute or supply any intoxicating substance. The restrictions shall also apply to hotels, restaurants, liquor shops and all other public and private places.
The order further stipulates that strict restrictions shall be imposed on the private possession and storage of liquor during the said period. Strict action will be taken under the relevant provisions of the Excise Act and Rules against the storage of liquor at unauthorised premises.
Any violation of the order will invite necessary legal action under the Assam Excise Act and Rules, as well as Section 135C of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.