Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators and supporters staged competing demonstrations outside the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly in Gairsain on 28 October 2026, turning the two-day session into a theatre of political confrontation. The Opposition pressed for a longer session to debate roads, healthcare, education, and corruption, while the ruling party hit back over a viral audio controversy linked to a Congress MLA's family.

Congress Demands Longer Session, Raises Ankita Bhandari Case

Congress legislators took to the Assembly premises for the second consecutive day, opposing what they described as an inadequately short session duration. The party demanded an extension to allow substantive discussion on constituency-level grievances across key public services.

Notably, protesters also renewed attention to the Ankita Bhandari murder case, questioning why the ruling dispensation had remained silent on accountability in the matter. The case, which had stirred widespread outrage across Uttarakhand, continues to serve as a political flashpoint for the Opposition.

Congress MLA Lakhapat Singh addressed reporters outside the Assembly, directly attacking the BJP government's record. 'Look at how the BJP has led to religious, economic, social, and political degradation in this state, constantly working to insult the state. In response to this, Congress stands from the streets to the Assembly floor. No accountability is being ensured by the government in the Legislative Assembly over the corruption, as well as the Ankita murder case, but the government will have to take responsibility,' Singh said.

Viral Audio Clip Triggers Fresh Controversy for Congress

The second day of the session was further disrupted by a separate controversy centred on a viral audio clip circulating on social media. The recording allegedly features Chaman Singh, brother of Congress MLA Pritam Singh from Chakrata, using threatening and abusive language against an individual identified as Balakram.

According to reports, Balakram was allegedly pressured to convince his two daughters to join the Congress party. The allegations have not been independently verified, and neither Pritam Singh nor his brother has publicly responded to the specific claims.

BJP Stages Counter-Protest, Burns Effigy

BJP leader Madhu Chauhan, accompanied by supporters, staged a counter-demonstration outside the Assembly premises, targeting the Congress party and MLA Pritam Singh over the audio clip controversy. Protesters burned an effigy as part of their agitation, escalating the political temperature on the session's final day.

This comes amid a broader pattern in Uttarakhand politics where Assembly sessions — often brief and infrequent — are met with Opposition protests over insufficient floor time, a recurring friction point between the two major parties.

Daughters Speak Out, Demand Action

Diksha, one of Balakram's daughters, shared the family's account with reporters. She said her family had traditionally backed Congress, but that trouble began after she and her sister chose to contest their college elections as independent candidates. 'Our family has been supporting Congress. However, during our college elections, we decided to contest independently. Following this, people from Congress started to threaten my father. We want strict action against the culprits,' Diksha said, demanding that authorities act against those allegedly involved.

With the session now concluded, both parties are expected to carry their grievances beyond the Assembly — either to public agitations or, in the case of the audio clip, potentially to legal forums.