Gaurav Gogoi campaigns for Congress candidate Sibamoni Bora in Raha, accuses BJP of ‘vote theft’

With only a few days remaining before the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election, election campaigning has intensified across the constituency. Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday campaigned for Congress candidate Sibamoni Bora at a public meeting in Kachua, under the Raha Assembly constituency, launching a sharp attack on the BJP government.

Addressing a large gathering, Gogoi asserted that the Congress would continue its campaign despite alleged obstacles and the display of black flags. Raising slogans such as “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chor”, he accused the BJP of manipulating elections to retain power and alleged that the party had formed the government in Assam by stealing votes in the previous Assembly election.

Gogoi also alleged that stones had been thrown at Congress candidate Sibamoni Bora and accused the BJP of resorting to such tactics out of fear of the opposition. Criticising the Election Commission of India, he alleged that the poll body was functioning in favour of the BJP government. He further remarked that the public meeting would leave Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma worried.

Gogoi also reacted to the Chief Minister’s reported remarks praising Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and suggesting that he should be awarded the Bharat Ratna.

Addressing the gathering, AICC secretary Manoj Chauhan said that the alleged throwing of stones at a woman candidate was an act of disrespect. He also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of winning elections by using the Election Commission to facilitate alleged vote theft.

Several Congress leaders attended the campaign meeting, including Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia, MLA Ashraful Islam, election observer Arman Ali and former MLA Jayanta Khaund, along with other party workers and supporters.