GUWAHATI |  A “Black Day” protest organised by the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) at Rajiv Bhawan in Guwahati turned tense on Thursday as party workers and police personnel confronted each other outside the Congress headquarters. Former APCC president Ripun Bora was injured during the protest and is undergoing treatment at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).

The protest was organised in response to the alleged police action against Congress leaders and Opposition MPs during a march in Delhi on Wednesday demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Congress workers gathered at Rajiv Bhawan wearing black bands on their foreheads. Tension escalated as police personnel deployed outside the party office put up barricades at the entrance.

Congress leaders alleged that police used excessive force during the protest. They further alleged that an ambulance was prevented from entering the Rajiv Bhawan premises after Bora was injured. Bora later said the demonstration was aimed at defending voting rights and asserted that police action or detention would not deter the Opposition.

“Led a massive protest to defend the right to vote. No police action, threat or detention can silence the people,” Bora said in a social media post, adding that the fight to protect voting rights would continue. Congress leader Nandita Das also criticised the Election Commission and the BJP-led government, alleging that the functioning of electoral institutions had weakened public confidence in the electoral process.

She specifically criticised Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that some decisions favoured the BJP and were taken without adequate consultation with other Election Commissioners. “People are losing faith in the electoral process because of the manner in which institutions are functioning,” Das said.