The Assam Congress has alleged that the state police are acting as agents of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of intimidating Congress candidates ahead of the upcoming Panchayat elections. Senior Congress leaders, including Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Bhupen Kumar Borah and Nagaon MP Pradyut Bordoloi, staged a protest march to the office of Director General of Police (DGP) Harmeet Singh in Guwahati to lodge their complaints.
The Congress claims that police officers have been threatening their candidates, particularly in Hindu-majority areas, to withdraw their nominations. Borah described the alleged intimidation as a BJP ploy to portray Congress as lacking support in Assamese Hindu regions. Bordoloi echoed these concerns, citing incidents in districts such as Sonitpur, Darrang, Dhemaji, and Tinsukia, where Congress candidates reportedly faced pressure to withdraw.
The protest coincided with the final day for nomination withdrawals for the Panchayat polls, scheduled for May 2 and 7. Congress leaders were initially stopped by security personnel but later allowed to meet Inspector General of Police Akhilesh Singh. The party has demanded immediate intervention to ensure free and fair elections.
The allegations have sparked a political storm, with Congress leaders accusing the BJP of using “money, muscle, and police” to undermine democratic processes. The Panchayat elections are seen as a bellwether for the 2026 Assembly elections, adding significance to the unfolding controversy.
