Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi has raised serious allegations regarding election security, claiming that workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party were seen inside strong rooms in remote parts of the state. Speaking to the media, Gogoi expressed his concerns over the presence of BJP workers in secure areas designated for ballot storage. "We are seeing BJP workers in the strong room in remote areas of the state. What is the Election Commission of India and its security force doing? It is clear that BJP cannot win on its own and it just wants to save itself through theft," he said, as cited by ANI.
Gogoi Dismisses Exit Polls as TRP Game
Commenting on the exit polls released on Wednesday evening, Gogoi dismissed them as mere entertainment, stating, "They are now just a game of TRP... and this is why they need some introspection." He further claimed that public support is moving away from the BJP, and many people have reached out to him expressing their unwillingness to work with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. "People will shift from the BJP because they are already calling and saying they don't want to work with Himanta Biswa Sarma. Shift has already happened in the BJP and its political allies; they have shifted to the Congress," Gogoi asserted.
Exit Polls Project BJP Majority
Despite Gogoi's claims, exit polls released on Wednesday evening for the high-stakes Assam contest indicate a clear majority for the incumbent government led by Himanta Biswa Sarma. Most pollsters project a third consecutive term for the BJP in the tea-producing state. The projections place the Indian National Congress on the margins, offering little momentum to the campaign led by Gogoi. Assam went to the polls across all 126 constituencies on April 9, recording a turnout of over 85%, one of the highest in recent years. Notably, the surge in voting was seen not only in rural areas but also in urban centres, reflecting broad-based and enthusiastic voter participation across the state.
Direct Contest Between Sarma and Gogoi
The Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is seeking a third consecutive term. The Indian National Congress, meanwhile, is attempting to regain ground in the state under Gaurav Gogoi, son of former chief minister Tarun Gogoi and deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The campaign has largely taken the shape of a direct contest between Sarma and Gogoi, with frequent exchanges between the two leaders. The allegations of security lapses and claims of party defections add a new dimension to the political narrative in Assam as the state awaits the final results.
