Samaguri, Assam: An altercation between BJP and Congress supporters erupted at the Sholmaari polling station in Samaguri constituency as bye-election voting progressed on Wednesday. Allegations surfaced that a group of BJP workers entered polling booths No. 89 and 90, allegedly disrupting the voting process and leading to a confrontation with Congress supporters.
Eyewitnesses reported that the altercation escalated quickly, with Congress workers reportedly facing physical assault during the scuffle, heightening tensions in the area. The incident prompted swift intervention from election officials and security personnel, who were dispatched to restore order at the polling station.
The Samaguri constituency is one of five assembly seats in Assam where bye-elections are taking place. Other constituencies include Dholai (SC), Sidli (ST), Bongaigaon, and Behali. These seats were vacated following the election of their previous representatives to the Lok Sabha, intensifying the stakes for both ruling and opposition parties in the region.
With 34 candidates contesting across these constituencies and over nine lakh eligible voters, polling stations saw a steady turnout from early morning. The Election Commission began operations at 7 a.m., with voting expected to close by 5 p.m. Authorities deployed around 9,000 polling officials across 1,078 stations, bolstered by heightened security arrangements, including webcasting at 592 locations. Special model polling booths were established at 11 stations, while 14 were staffed entirely by women.
Security has been a priority, with 15 companies from the Central Armed Police Forces, totaling about 1,500 personnel, working in tandem with the Assam Police to ensure a peaceful process. The Samaguri race, drawing particular attention, pits Congress candidate Tanzil Hussain, son of Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain, against BJP’s Diplu Ranjan Sarma. Meanwhile, in Behali, former BJP member Jayanta Borah now representing Congress, is up against BJP’s Diganta Ghatowal, with candidates from CPI(ML) Liberation and AAP also in the contest.
Officials are expected to investigate the claims surrounding the Sholmaari incident, aiming to uphold the integrity of the voting process as polling progresses.