New Delhi/Guwahati: Senior Congress leaders from Assam on Sunday joined the party’s “vote chori” protest at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, accusing the BJP-led Central government of undermining democratic institutions and weakening electoral integrity. Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly, Debabrata Saikia, and Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president and Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi were among the prominent state leaders who participated in the rally organised in support of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
The protest witnessed participation from party workers across the country, including a large contingent from Assam, and was held under tight security arrangements. Addressing party workers, Gaurav Gogoi underlined the importance of collective political mobilisation, stating that the turnout reflected growing public concern over democratic practices. He said more than a thousand Congress workers from Assam had gathered in Delhi and would carry the message of unity and democratic strengthening back to the state.
While the protest focused on allegations of electoral manipulation and institutional erosion, it drew attention after a section of workers allegedly raised objectionable slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress leadership, however, maintained that the core objective of the rally was to demand accountability, protect constitutional bodies and highlight concerns raised by Rahul Gandhi regarding electoral transparency.
Speaking to the media, Debabrata Saikia criticised what he described as the BJP’s “shifting narratives” to influence voters. He also referred to eviction drives in Assam, alleging that ordinary citizens were being unfairly targeted and misrepresented. The protest marked a further escalation of the Congress campaign against the Centre, with electoral integrity and democratic accountability emerging as key issues ahead of forthcoming elections.
