A political controversy erupted in Jorhat on Wednesday after the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) alleged that suggestion boxes placed during its public outreach programme were tampered with, prompting the party to seek police action. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, dismissed the allegations and accused the Congress of organisational negligence.
The incident relates to the Congress programme “Raijor Podulit Raijor Congress”, held at the Jorhat Press Club, where suggestion boxes were installed to collect public feedback as part of the party’s preparations for the 2026 Assam Assembly elections. Congress leaders claimed that after the programme concluded, the boxes were found damaged and that chits submitted by the public had gone missing.
Senior Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said the alleged tampering was a serious matter and called for a thorough police investigation. He urged the authorities to register an FIR and identify those responsible, stating that such actions undermine democratic political engagement and the public’s right to express their views freely.
The BJP, however, countered the claims, using the episode to target the Congress. Assam BJP secretary Siddhanku Ankur Baruah said the opposition party was attempting to shift blame for its own lapses. He alleged that the Congress failed to properly secure the suggestion boxes after the event and termed the controversy an “excuse to hide organisational weakness”.
“The Congress is making a spectacle out of its own carelessness. If they were serious about public opinion, they should have ensured proper handling of the boxes,” Baruah said, adding that the BJP remains focused on grassroots engagement and governance under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The row comes amid intensifying political activity in Assam as parties ramp up outreach efforts ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls. While Congress has reiterated its demand for police action, no official confirmation has yet been issued on whether a case has been registered.
The incident has added to the sharpening political exchanges in Upper Assam, with both parties seeking to shape the narrative as election season approaches.
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