APCC Submits Complaints to Chief Election Commissioner During Guwahati Visit; BJP Delegation Also Meets EC

Guwahati: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Tuesday met Chief Election Commissioner of India Gyanesh Kumar during his visit to Guwahati and submitted a series of complaints related to the electoral process and law-and-order situation in the state.

A delegation led by Member of Parliament Rakibul Hussain and former Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora apprised the Commission of alleged harassment of citizens during the Special Revision (SR) of electoral rolls. The leaders claimed that names of living voters were being deleted from the rolls by marking them as deceased and alleged that the Election Commission machinery was being misused under the patronage of the state government.

Addressing a press conference at Rajiv Bhawan, Ripun Bora said a four-member APCC delegation met the Commission on the direction of party president Gaurav Gogoi and urged it to ensure free, fair and transparent elections. He also expressed apprehension that if the current law-and-order situation persists, impartial elections would be difficult.

Referring to the Samaguri by-election, Bora alleged that incidents of violence and intimidation had taken place, including attacks on MP Rakibul Hussain and vandalisation of vehicles belonging to several legislators. He claimed that despite complaints and FIRs, no effective action had been taken. Bora also cited alleged irregularities during panchayat elections and obstruction of political programmes during Gaurav Gogoi’s statewide yatra, accusing the police of remaining passive.

The APCC delegation further raised concerns over the requirement to pay fees and undergo lengthy procedures to obtain permission for public meetings, calling it discriminatory and burdensome for opposition parties. They urged that permissions be granted within 24 hours during election periods.

Rakibul Hussain also questioned the initiation of the Special Revision process, stating that the Election Commission had earlier indicated that SR would not be required in Assam as documents had already been verified during the NRC process. He sought clarification on the circumstances under which SR was subsequently initiated.

According to the APCC leaders, the Chief Election Commission assured them that once the election process formally begins and the administration comes under the Commission’s direct supervision, such incidents would not be permitted.

BJP Delegation Meets Election Commission

Earlier in the day, a delegation from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also met the Election Commission and submitted its views regarding the forthcoming Assam Legislative Assembly elections. The BJP delegation, led by MP and State Election Committee Convenor Pradan Baruah, Education Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya and State Election Cell Convenor Dhrubajyoti Dauka, urged the Commission to conduct the Assembly elections before Rongali Bihu.

The delegation stated that Assam currently has improved infrastructure, better connectivity and a stable law-and-order situation, and requested that the election process be completed within a consolidated timeframe. The party’s views were conveyed through an official statement issued by BJP state spokesperson Kalyan Gogoi.

During the consultations, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was accompanied by Election Commissioner Vivek Joshi and Assam Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goel, along with other senior officials.

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