New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal traded accusations after a Congress campaign convoy was allegedly attacked with stones in Nagaon district.
The incident occurred as Congress leaders were travelling to a public meeting at Barma as part of the party’s campaign for the Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll. The confrontation led to tension in the area, with people taking to the streets and waving black flags. Police later used a lathi charge to disperse the gathering, while stones were also reportedly thrown at CRPF personnel deployed at the location.
Sarma attributed the incident to internal differences within the Congress and accused the party leadership of attempting to shift responsibility. He pointed to the Samaguri Assembly constituency, represented by Congress MLA Tanzil Hussain, and argued that rival factions within the party were responsible for the confrontation.
The Assam Chief Minister said Congress had received significantly more votes than the BJP in the constituency during the previous Assembly election, and called on the party’s state leadership to address its internal differences.
Venugopal rejected Sarma’s allegations and accused BJP workers of attacking the Congress convoy. He alleged that Congress leaders, including former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi and candidate Shivamoni Bora, were targeted during the incident.
Venugopal also accused the state government of using political pressure and violence against opposition parties and questioned whether the Election Commission would take action over the incident.
The exchange comes amid intensified campaigning for the Nagaon bypoll. The election was necessitated after Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the Lok Sabha seat before successfully contesting the Assam Assembly election from Dispur on a BJP ticket.
Polling for the Nagaon by-election is scheduled for October 6, with counting set for October 9.
