Guwahati: Tensions flared in Assam on Monday after a convoy carrying senior Congress leaders was allegedly attacked and pelted with stones during a by-election campaign in the Nagaon district. According to the Congress party, the targeted vehicles were carrying Assam Congress President Gaurav Gogoi, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, and the party’s candidate for the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll, Sivamoni Bora.
The incident reportedly took place in the Samaguri assembly segment when the leaders were heading to a public meeting. Congress leaders have accused supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating the violence, sharing visuals of smashed car windows and shattered windshields on social media.
Taking to the microblogging platform X, Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi posted a video of the damaged vehicle and detailed the attack. “This is the state of the car belonging to the Congress candidate Smt. Sivamoni Bora. AICC Secretary Manoj Chauhan was inside and has been hit by a stone in his ribs. Looks like BJP has been organizing training programs on stone pelting,” Gogoi wrote.
Gogoi heavily criticized Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the state police, alleging that law enforcement deliberately stood by despite being given prior warnings about potential violence. He also questioned the Election Commission of India (ECI), stating, “Suddenly Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will plead incompetence. Election Commission of India will not order any transfers or suspensions.”
Echoing his sentiments, Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal condemned the incident and accused the Chief Minister of deploying “goons” to target political rivals. “Launching a brutal stone-pelting attack on our Assam In-Charge, Ex. Chhattisgarh CM Sh. Bhupesh Baghel ji, Assam PCC President Sh. Gaurav Gogoi ji and our Nagaon candidate Smt. Shivamoni Bora ji shows how desperately shaken this hooligan BJP regime is,” Venugopal posted. He further demanded accountability from the ECI regarding the maintenance of law and order during the election period.
Security has since been beefed up in the area, with heavy deployments of police and paramilitary forces to prevent further clashes.
The Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency is scheduled to go to the polls on October 6, with the counting of votes set for October 9. The by-election was necessitated after the sitting MP, Pradyut Bordoloi, resigned from the Congress in March and joined the BJP.