GUWAHATI : The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Thursday, January 8, launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led state government and the Election Commission of India, alleging a “dangerous and deliberate conspiracy” to manipulate electoral rolls in Assam through widespread irregularities in the ongoing Special Summary Revision (SSR) exercise.

Speaking at a press conference at Rajiv Bhavan, Dhubri Lok Sabha MP Rakibul Hussain and former Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora claimed Assam is witnessing a pattern of voter list manipulation similar to allegations previously raised by the Congress in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Karnataka.

Hussain alleged that, contrary to assurances from the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Assam that the SSR would follow routine procedures, Booth Level Supervisors (BLS) were kept uninformed during the preparation of draft rolls, resulting in confusion and irregularities in the claims and objections process.

He also accused the Election Commission of permitting misuse of Forms 6, 7, and 8, allowing a single individual to raise objections against multiple voters-contravening established guidelines.

Targeting Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Hussain claimed that objections were being used to remove legitimate voters while facilitating the inclusion of outsiders in electoral rolls.

He further criticised the Election Commission for failing to share weekly updates on claims and objections with political parties, as mandated under its own norms, calling the entire process “unconstitutional and unethical.” Ripun Bora echoed these concerns, alleging that the BJP had effectively turned the Election Commission into a “puppet.”

He pointed out that draft rolls published in late December and early January showed minimal changes, making it difficult for voters and parties to identify discrepancies or seek corrections. Bora also criticised the omission of critical details such as newly added voters, deletions of deceased voters, and transferred voters in the draft rolls, arguing that withholding such information defeats the purpose of the objections process.

Referring to media reports of an alleged online meeting in which the BJP’s Assam president reportedly instructed party leaders to identify voters who did not support the ruling party, Bora questioned why the Election Commission had not issued any clarification, even if the reports were inaccurate.

Further allegations included the mid-term replacement of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in some areas for resisting political pressure, selective removal of BLOs from certain communities, and serious irregularities at polling stations in Guwahati’s Dispur area, where voters were added or removed without consent.

The Congress leaders announced plans to submit a detailed memorandum to the Chief Electoral Officer of Assam on January 9, highlighting these alleged irregularities, and to demand a forensic investigation into the controversial BJP video conference. A joint delegation of opposition parties is expected to meet the Chief Election Commissioner in New Delhi in the coming days to press for corrective action.

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