Guwahati, Feb 21: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has accused the ruling BJP of “threatening and provoking” Congress candidates nominated to contest the civic polls, scheduled across 80 municipal boards across the state, on March 6.
In a letter to the Assam State Election Commission on Monday, APCC general secretary (administration) Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee sought adequate security for the party’s candidates in the run-up to the civic elections so that the polls are conducted in a free and fair manner.
“Assam Pradesh Congress Committee likes to draw your attention that the candidates of INC for Municipal Board Election 2022, almost in all the municipal board areas of the state, are facing provocation and threats to their lives along with their family members,” Bhattacharjee wrote in the letter to the commission.
“Ruling political party leaders are engaging fellow party workers to mentally harass Congress candidates and, even at some places, gherao the houses of INC candidates, and are mounting tremendous pressure on them to withdraw their nominations,” he alleged.
“Moreover, BJP supporters are asking the voters that they must take a photo from their mobile (phones) while casting their votes to substantiate their support to the BJP,” the Congress leader alleged.
“This is totally against the procedure of an election and it will have to be stopped. Kindly direct the local administration not to allow the voters to carry mobile phones or any such digital device inside the polling station, referring to the election guidelines and model code of conduct,” he stated.
The state election commission had earlier informed that there will be 2054 polling booths during the polls while at least 20,000 to 25000 government personnel will have to be deployed for the execution of the polls.
Counting of votes will take place on March 9, 2022.