PoliticsAssam
Assam Congress to post 'Vote Rakshaks' at all 31,486 booths as the roll is revised again
The party says it will watch every polling booth and municipal ward during the second summary revision of the year, and has sent more than 100 observers across the state's 35 districts.
Key points
- The Assam Congress will name a 'Vote Rakshak' for each of 31,486 polling booths and 669 municipal wards.
- The state's final voter list from the new summary revision is due in November 2026.
- Party president Gaurav Gogoi has appointed 102 observers, alongside seven sent by the AICC.
The Congress in Assam will station a party worker it calls a “Vote Rakshak” at each of the state’s 31,486 polling booths and 669 municipal wards to keep watch on the latest revision of the voter list, party leaders said in Guwahati on Saturday.
The move is part of a “Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao” campaign the party says will reach all 35 districts and 301 blocks. The AICC has deputed seven senior observers, and state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi has appointed 102 more.
Assam published a draft roll on 5 February. About eight months later the Election Commission ordered a second Special Summary Revision, and the final list is now due in November 2026.
‘Forced to start again’
Former MLA Satyabrata Kalita, speaking at Rajiv Bhawan, the party’s state headquarters, mocked the Chief Election Commissioner. “Gyanesh Kumar, who allegedly deserves a Bharat Ratna, was forced to initiate the Special Summary Revision once again,” he said.
He argued that the flaws went to the heart of the last election. “An election conducted based on a flawed voter list can never be valid. This government is completely illegitimate,” Kalita said. “If the Chief Minister has even minimal respect for democracy and the public, he should resign.”
Kalita also turned on the state’s Special Investigation Team, saying of a case it is handling: “It was claimed that the SIT would submit a watertight chargesheet, but that water has now leaked and caused a flood.”
Rules the party is watching
Bipul Gogoi, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee’s general secretary (administration), said the party had pressed for wider publicity, asking for at least 10 hoardings per constituency. According to the leaders, the Commission cited budget limits and has kept its outreach to press meets and social media.
They pointed to two other changes in this round. Any one person can now file complaints or objections against no more than 10 people. And the revision is being run from the District Commissioner’s office rather than by Circle Officers, as before.
“The Election Commission of India is a constitutional and independent body. There should be no outside interference,” Bipul Gogoi said. Recalling a former CEC, he added: “Only a strong and impartial figure like TN Seshan can uphold the dignity of the Election Commission.”
The party has not said when the Vote Rakshaks will be in place. No response from the Election Commission had been reported by Saturday night.
The campaign in Assam runs alongside the INDIA bloc’s national push against the Election Commission, which is building towards a rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on 1 November.