A heated clash erupted between BJP and Congress supporters at the Sholmaari polling station in Samaguri during the ongoing bye-elections on November 13. Allegations have surfaced that BJP workers disrupted the voting process at booths No. 89 and 90.
Witnesses report that several Congress workers were physically assaulted, escalating tensions further. Election officials and security personnel promptly intervened to restore order while the authorities pledged to investigate these allegations.
The bye-elections, significant for both the ruling BJP and opposition Congress, are being held in five key Assam assembly constituencies: Dholai (SC), Sidli (ST), Bongaigaon, Behali, and Samaguri. These elections follow vacancies left by representatives who secured parliamentary seats in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
A total of 34 candidates, including many newcomers, are contesting the polls. Voting began at 7 AM and will conclude at 5 PM across 1,078 polling stations, with over nine lakh registered voters expected to participate.
Approximately 9,000 polling staff are facilitating the process to ensure it is fair and efficient. In an effort to maintain transparency, webcasting is being utilized at 592 stations, while 11 centers have been designated as model polling booths, and 14 are staffed entirely by women.
Security measures have been intensified with the deployment of 15 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces, totaling around 1,500 personnel, alongside the Assam Police. In Samaguri, Congress’s Tanzil Hussain, son of Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain, is up against BJP’s Diplu Ranjan Sarma.
Meanwhile, in Behali, Jayanta Borah, a former BJP member now representing Congress, faces BJP’s Diganta Ghatowal, with additional candidates Lakhikanta Kurmi (CPI(ML) Liberation) and Ananta Gogoi (AAP) contributing to the contest.
