Did Congress File FIR Against Assam BJP Chief Over 'Vote Theft' Allegations?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Guwahati, Jan 9 (NationPress) The Congress-led opposition in Assam took a significant step on Friday by filing an FIR against Dilip Saikia, the president of the state's BJP, at Dispur Police Station. They allege that the ongoing Special Revision (SR) of the electoral rolls is a case of ‘vote chori’ (vote theft), accusing the ruling party of trying to tamper with the voters’ list ahead of the upcoming elections.
The FIR, part of a unified initiative by opposition parties, implicates the BJP and claims that the Special Revision is being conducted in collaboration with the Election Commission of India to intentionally remove the names of legitimate voters.
Opposition figures highlighted that such actions threaten democratic rights and demanded an immediate cessation of the revision process, alongside a transparent and fair review of the electoral rolls.
After the FIR was filed, senior Congress leader and former MP Ripun Bora stated that this initiative was a calculated conspiracy. He noted that all opposition parties collectively submitted the FIR against Saikia, referencing a live video conference from January 4.
Bora claimed that during this meeting, Saikia allegedly directed BJP MLAs and district leaders to identify between 5,000 and 10,000 voters in every constituency who were not aligned with the BJP. He asserted that this operation would occur in approximately 60 constituencies, with party leaders required to submit these lists by January 12, while a minister was appointed to supervise the entire effort.
“This reveals the BJP's intention to eliminate 5,000 to 10,000 voters from each constituency. This concern mirrors what Rahul Gandhi has been vocalizing nationwide, and it has now surfaced in Assam,” Bora remarked.
The Congress leader also criticized the Election Commission for its silence regarding these serious allegations.
“This is a serious offense. We have lodged the FIR demanding action in line with the Election Commission's regulations and guidelines. This is our democratic responsibility,” he emphasized.
Leaders from the opposition warned that if swift corrective measures were not implemented, they would escalate their protests across the state and explore legal and constitutional avenues, accusing the BJP government of engaging in anti-democratic and anti-constitutional practices.