1. Congress urges the Election Commission to install CCTV cameras and deploy paramilitary forces in Assam’s sensitive polling booths.
2. The party alleges BJP is creating fear among voters, raising concerns about booth capturing and rigging.
3. Congress calls for action to ensure free and fair by-elections in the state.
Guwahati, Nov 09: In Assam, the opposition Congress party has urged the Election Commission to install CCTV cameras and deploy central paramilitary forces in sensitive polling booths to ensure free and fair by-elections in the state.
In a letter addressed to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, Congress alleged that the ruling BJP was creating a climate of fear among voters by issuing threats, leading to concerns about booth capturing and rigging.
The by-elections are scheduled to take place on November 13 in the Dholai, Sidli, Bongaigaon, Samaguri, and Behali assembly constituencies.
According to Congress, “The goons and supporters of the ruling party have instilled fear among common voters through acts of vandalism and intimidation, which is harmful to the integrity of the election process. Many polling booths are highly sensitive, and there is a real possibility of booth capturing and rigging by the ruling party.”
The letter, signed by state Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah, leader of the opposition Debabrata Saikia, and the party’s special observer for Assam Vikas Upadhyay, also mentioned that several party leaders, including MLAs, had reported incidents of poll-related violence.
Despite multiple FIRs and complaints being filed, Congress claimed that the police and civil administration had failed to take preventive action.
The Congress also raised concerns about the transfer of five police officers in the Nagaon district, alleging that this move was in violation of the law and might indicate an attempt to influence the elections. The Samaguri seat, which is currently held by Congress, is located in Nagaon.
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Congress has demanded the installation of sufficient CCTV cameras and increased security by deploying paramilitary forces at polling booths to safeguard the election process.
Additionally, they requested that voters, polling agents, and officials be prohibited from entering polling booths with mobile phones.
The party also called for the reinstatement of police officers to their original postings, claiming that their transfers were unlawful and done without permission from the Election Commission.
Congress is contesting all five seats in the by-elections, while the ruling BJP has fielded candidates in three constituencies, with its allies AGP and UPPL contesting in one each.
Of the five constituencies, four are held by the ruling coalition and one by Congress.
