Nagaon bypoll: Rakibul Hussain alleges BJP rigging in Samaguri, claims unidentified people entered booths

Dhubri MP and senior Congress leader Rakibul Hussain on October 6 accused the BJP of widespread irregularities during polling in the Samaguri Assembly segment of the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election.

Addressing a press conference at the Nagaon District Congress Committee office, Hussain alleged that irregularities took place in Kathpara under Samaguri on Monday night under the leadership of Borkhola MLA Jitu Goswami.

He further alleged that unidentified people travelling in around 11 vehicles illegally entered several polling stations in the constituency during voting and attempted to carry out rigging.

Hussain did not provide details of the specific polling stations where the alleged incidents took place or the identities of the people he accused of entering the booths.

The Congress leader's allegations come as polling was underway across the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency on Tuesday. Election officials said polling remained peaceful, with 70.25 per cent of the 19.05 lakh eligible voters having cast their ballots by 3 pm.

The Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency comprises eight Assembly segments, including Samaguri. Voting began at 7 am and was scheduled to continue until 5 pm.

Hussain has previously accused the BJP and the administration of failing to prevent alleged incidents during the campaign for the bypoll. He had earlier described an attack on a Congress convoy in Samaguri as “premeditated” and alleged police inaction, claims rejected by the BJP.

Samaguri MLA Tanzil Hussain and Nagaon District Congress Committee president Runumoni Bora were also present at Tuesday's press conference.

The Nagaon bypoll was necessitated after former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the Lok Sabha seat and subsequently won the Dispur Assembly constituency on a BJP ticket in the 2026 Assam Assembly election.

Counting of votes is scheduled for October 9.