ভোট চুৰিৰ বিৰুদ্ধে কংগ্ৰেছৰ বিশাল প্ৰতিবাদ

▪️ Massive Congress protest against Vote Chori
▪️ Guwahati erupts in protest against the erosion of constitutional rights

Guwahati, 6 January: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) today staged a massive protest in Guwahati against the BJP government and the Election Commission over serious irregularities found in the draft electoral rolls at several locations in the Guwahati metropolitan area. The protest was triggered by reports that names of persons from outside the state were included under the ‘EPIC’ numbers of local families without their knowledge.

Allegations include the inclusion of outsiders in the voter lists of residents on Taiyabulla Road near Dighalipukhuri, and the enrolment of more than 30 non-existent voters at House No. 595 in Ward No. 22. In protest against these irregularities, the Guwahati Metropolitan District Committee of the APCC organised a sit-in demonstration at Manavendra Sharma Complex.

Led by APCC General Secretaries Pradyut Bhuyan and Shantanu Bora, and Guwahati Metropolitan District Congress President Swapan Das, Congress leaders and workers raised slogans such as “Down with the Election Commission,” “Vote thieves must step down from power,” and condemned Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for allegedly attempting to return to power through vote theft. From 11:30 a.m., the protest intensified near Last Gate, Dispur.

Among those present were Mahila Congress President Meera Borthakur, Media Department Chairman Bedabrata Bora, former Mayor Kushal Sharma, Metropolitan District Congress Vice-President Bipul Chakravarty, General Secretaries Rupak Das, Rimjhim Bora, party spokespersons Bidisha Neog and Palakshi Das, along with Metropolitan District Congress leader Pranjal Burhagohain and hundreds of Congress workers, who continued the protest for an extended period. Although police barricaded and cordoned off the Manavendra Sharma Complex, protesters eventually broke through the barricades and came out onto the road.

Following the sit-in, a protest meeting was held under the chairmanship of Metropolitan District Congress President Swapan Das, who urged everyone to remain vigilant against vote theft. Addressing the gathering, General Secretary Shantanu Bora strongly criticised Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging that the BJP, fearing the Congress forming the next government, had resorted to vote theft to retain power. He asserted that under the leadership of Gaurav Gogoi, a Congress government is set to return to Assam, and it is this fear that has prompted the BJP to undermine democratic values.

Media Department Chairman Bedabrata Bora called upon all Congress workers to thoroughly examine the final electoral roll scheduled to be published on 10 February. He urged them to lodge complaints with election officials if any excess inclusion of out-of-state voters is found, and to inform social media and news outlets with proper evidence. Stating that the Guwahati protest should be replicated across Assam, Bora warned that any undemocratic attempt to snatch away the voting rights of the people of Assam and form a government using non-Assamese voters would never be tolerated. He further declared that the Congress would even shed blood if necessary, but would not allow constitutional rights to be violated.

▪️ Media and Communication Department
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee
PR/APCC/M-26/0010