Have you got a call from Mira Borthakur? Find out who called you

GUWAHATI: Congress candidate of Gauhati (West) constituency Mira Borthakur nearly got caught on the wrong foot had she not acted promptly to alert the Election Commission of India about a failed fraudulent attempt by unscrupulous elements to frame her on charges of violation of model code of conduct.

With barely 12 hours left ahead of polling in her constituency, hundreds of mobile phones rang up across the capital city here with recorded calls soliciting votes for Borthakur. 

The purported calls came from a phone No 7447119180, in which a voice, supposed to be that of Borthakur, requested the voters to vote for the Congress in Gauhati (West) constituency.

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“Namaskar, I am Mira Borthakur speaking. I am the Indian National Congress and Mahajath supported candidate of 54 Gauhati (West) constituency. On April 6, I hope and request you to cast your valuable vote in favour of the hand symbol,” the purported voice of Borthakur was heard when the calls were attended.

When contacted, Election Commission sources confirmed that it was violation of the code of conduct to canvas during the 48-hour period counting back from the time of end of poll. Campaigning for the Gauhati (West) candidates ended at 6 pm yesterday.

When contacted, Borthakur said: “It was a conspiracy by some unscrupulous elements in the rival parties to frame me. I am aware of the code of conduct. I have already complained with the Election Commission regarding it. The calls were made from numbers in Rajasthan.”

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Gauhati (West) has the highest number of candidates – 15 – in the poll fray this time.

A former BJP leader who switched to the Congress after the Citizenship Amendment Act protests, Borthakur is pitched against sitting Asom Gana Parishad MLA Ramendra Narayan Kalita as main opponent. Borthakur was eyeing for the Gauhati (East) ticket that went to Gopinath Bordoloi’s granddaughter Ashima Bordoloi.