Congress stages strong protest in Boko over alleged vote rigging

Boko witnessed a tense political atmosphere on January 28, as the Kamrup District Congress Committee, with support from the Boko and Bonggaon Block Congress Committees, staged a massive protest alleging vote rigging at the Boko–Chaygaon Co-District Commissioner’s (CDC) office.

The protest was held under the slogan “Vote Chor, Choki Erok” (Vote Thieves, Vacate the Chair), with hundreds of Congress workers raising slogans such as “Beware of Vote Thieves,” “Catch the Vote Thieves,” and “Save Democracy.” The demonstrators marched from Rajiv Bhavan and laid siege to the Boko–Chaygaon CDC office, bringing the area to a standstill for several hours.

Senior Congress leaders, including Boko MLA Rakibuddin Ahmed, MLA Nandita Das, former MP R. P. Sharma, Kamrup District Congress President Pranjit Choudhury, and APCC General Secretary Ramanna Baruah, were present at the protest and addressed the gathering.

Following the demonstration, the administration facilitated a meeting between a Congress delegation and Palashbari CDC Rashmi Baruah Gogoi at the Boko–Chaygaon office. The Congress delegation also submitted a memorandum demanding action and sought the registration of an FIR in connection with the incident that allegedly took place on Thursday, January 22, at the CDC office. An FIR was subsequently registered at Boko Police Station.

Addressing the protesters, MLA Rakibuddin Ahmed strongly criticised Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his remarks targeting so-called “Miya voters,” terming them derogatory and divisive. He said such statements weaken democratic values and reiterated that the Congress would continue its struggle to protect democracy and the rights of the people.