The Congress has moved the Election Commission seeking the transfer of three police officials from Assam’s Nagaon district to ensure “free and fair polls” in Samaguri, one of the state’s five Assembly constituencies having bypoll on November 13.
Assam Pradesh Congress Seva Dal chief, Deep Bayan, told The Telegraph that a party delegation, led by Jakir Hussain Sikdar, met the state’s chief electoral officer (CEO) Anurag Goel on Tuesday and submitted a two-page representation seeking action against the three officials.
The representation flagged the Nagaon administration’s “biased” attitude towards the ruling BJP while seeking the intervention of the chief election commissioner (CEC) to ensure free and fair poll in Samaguri, which the Congress won in 2021.
This is the second time the Congress has moved the poll authorities since October 16 when a PCC delegation had similarly met Goel seeking action against Nagaon SP and two OCs for their “partisan” role.
“Since no appropriate action was taken we decided to move the CEC. The CEO assured us of looking into the matter. So far we have not heard of any action being initiated on our petition,” Bayan said on Wednesday afternoon.
The other four constituencies having bypoll include Behali, Dholai, Bongaigaon and Sidli. Polls were necessitated in these five seats after the five sitting MLAs got elected to the Lok Sabha in June. The four seats were won by the BJP and its allies in 2021.
In its complaint, the Congress has alleged that there have been regular attacks on their convoys leading to damage of over 100 vehicles of workers and leaders. It also alleged police action against three party workers without any warrant.
The representation to the CEC said it was “apparent that the administration in the Nagaon district has played an extremely partisan role since bypoll has been announced in Samaguri. As a result, a situation of fear has gripped the entire constituency. Under these conditions, it has become impossible for the Congress party and its candidate and workers to carry forward the campaign”.
The state Congress said “free and fair election is not possible” in Samaguri under the prevailing circumstances.
