Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI: Former Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Ripun Bora has levelled serious allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of colluding with the Election Commission of India (ECI) to manipulate voter lists and rig elections across multiple states, including a possible attempt in Assam.
Speaking at a press conference here on Sunday, Bora said that the BJP has evolved its electoral strategies since 2014, shifting from “fake promises and communal propaganda” to “money power,” and now to allegedly manipulating electoral rolls in collaboration with the ECI.
Citing the Maharashtra Assembly elections held in November 2024, Bora alleged that nearly 48 lakh fake voters were added to the rolls with the help of the ECI. “In one constituency, 7,000 voters were listed under a single household. In around 50 constituencies, the number of voters rose by nearly 50,000 each—which is statistically improbable under normal circumstances,” he said.
Bora further claimed that the ECI had ignored complaints regarding these anomalies and warned that similar tactics are now being implemented in Bihar ahead of its upcoming elections. He criticized the Commission’s decision to undertake an “intensive voter list revision” for over 8 crore voters in just four months, calling it an attempt to disenfranchise genuine voters, particularly opposition supporters.
Turning his attention to Assam, the Congress leader warned that the BJP may replicate the ‘Maharashtra and Bihar models’ in Assam. He accused the ruling party of branding thousands of people as ‘D-voters’ and illegal immigrants to have their names removed from the voter list, while simultaneously adding voters from other regions with political leanings in their favour.
“We want the Election Commission to protect democracy and ensure the sanctity of the Constitution. We will train our grassroots activists to raise awareness so that voters are not cheated of their rights,” Bora asserted.
Bora questioned the ECI’s transparency, pointing out that election-related CCTV footage is now preserved for only 45 days, down from the earlier standard of one year. “Every opposition party has raised concerns about the ECI working as ‘His Master’s Voice’ for the ruling party. The Commission must remain neutral and serve ‘We the People,’” Bora said.
APCC media department in-charge Charan Singh Chapra echoed Bora’s concerns, stating that the BJP is using various election models in Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Bihar to maintain power and warned that similar methods could be used in Assam if the opposition is not vigilant.
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