“BJP Uses Syndicate Money, Congress Doesn’t,” Says Pradyut Bordoloi

Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi on Monday said the party is preparing a people’s manifesto for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, rooted in direct engagement with citizens across the state to reflect their genuine concerns and aspirations.

Addressing the media, Bordoloi said the Congress has already begun an extensive door-to-door outreach programme from December 6 to listen to people at the grassroots level. He stated that the exercise is aimed at understanding public sentiment “from the heart” and translating it into a manifesto that truly represents the voice of Assam.

As part of the initiative, the party has constituted five separate outreach groups that are interacting with people in different regions of the state. These groups are being led by APCC president Gaurav Gogoi, Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia, former APCC president Bhupen Bora, MP Rakibul Hussain, and former APCC chief Ripun Bora.

Bordoloi said the Congress is reaching out to people across Assam’s hills, plains, Barak Valley, and the Brahmaputra Valley to engage in meaningful dialogue. “Along with public interactions, the party will hold discussions with various political parties and organisations. Congress leaders will also meet intellectuals and eminent citizens to listen to their views,” he said, adding that all suggestions will be carefully incorporated while finalising the manifesto.

Meanwhile, the Congress strongly rejected allegations made by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma that the party distributes tickets in exchange for money. Bordoloi said such claims were baseless and misleading, asserting that the Congress functions on contributions made by its workers.

“Unlike the BJP, the Congress does not run on syndicate money. The BJP will fight elections using funds from syndicates and extortion, whereas the Congress contests elections through the collective contributions of its workers,” he said. Bordoloi added that charging an application fee from ticket aspirants is a long-standing and transparent practice within the party.

He further remarked that Chief Minister Sarma himself had applied for a Congress ticket through the same process in the past. “People of Assam do not take such statements seriously anymore, as the Chief Minister is known for making unfounded remarks,” Bordoloi said.

Raising questions over the BJP’s much-publicised ‘People’s Pulse’ survey, Bordoloi also expressed doubts about its credibility, asking how many people were surveyed and what the actual sample size was.

The Congress, he said, remains focused on building its election strategy around public participation, dialogue, and accountability as it prepares for the Assembly polls.

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