Guwahati: Netizens have criticized Bhupen Kumar Borah, the leader of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, for tweeting a fake BBC survey about the Tripura Elections in 2023. The Congress leader combined a Tripura Elections opinion poll graphic with a BBC news logo in the now-deleted tweet, which he sloppily edited to portray his party as the obvious poll victor.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the Congress state leader had predicted in their tweet’s caption that they would each win more than 40 seats in the Tripura elections of 2023. In Kerala, the two political parties are direct rivals, but they came together to create an alliance before the elections.
Internet users quickly exposed Bhupen Kumar’s message as a hoax, and they chastised the Congressman for spreading incorrect information. A screenshot of the phoney BBC opinion poll image provided by Bhupen Kumar Borah was shared on Twitter by Assam minister and BJP leader Pijush Hazarik, along with a screenshot of the genuine BBC news logo over which the opinion poll was overlaid.
“After non-stop defeat in elections, Congress has been reduced to using poorly edited fake opinion polls. Was this the grand strategy decided at AICC Plenary @BhupenKborah ji? PS: You have also violated the law by sharing fake opinion polls on polling day,” tweeted the BJP leader.
Bhupen Kumar Borah hastily deleted his tweet when exposed for unethically releasing a modified phoney opinion poll to demonstrate that exit polls indicated a victory for his alliance. The event has brought attention to the risks associated with disseminating false material on social media during an election year.