Congress Questions EVM Integrity in Assam Assembly Elections

In a recent press conference, Ripun Bora, the Working President of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, raised serious concerns regarding the integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used in the Assam Assembly elections. He highlighted irregularities in polling patterns and vote counting, urging the Election Commission of India to investigate unexplained anomalies. Bora pointed out significant spikes in voter turnout during specific hours and questioned the Chief Minister's trip to Japan before the vote counting. He called for a thorough inquiry into the electoral process, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in the elections.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 4, 2026, 17:00 IST

Concerns Raised Over EVM Credibility

APCC press meet at Guwahati Press Club on Saturday

Guwahati, July 4: Ripun Bora, the Working President of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), expressed doubts regarding the reliability of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) utilized in the recent Assam Assembly elections.

During a press conference held at the Guwahati Press Club, Bora raised concerns about irregularities in voting patterns and the counting process, urging the Election Commission of India (ECI) to address what he termed as "unexplained anomalies" in the electoral system.

Bora pointed out that numerous discrepancies emerged during the Assembly elections on April 9, especially concerning the voter turnout figures across various constituencies.

"Typically, the Election Commission provides updates on voter turnout every two hours from 7 am until 5 pm. However, we observed a sudden increase of 15% in polling in 36 constituencies and 16% in 32 constituencies between 1 pm and 3 pm," he claimed.

He noted that 36 constituencies recorded nearly 21% voter turnout from 9 am to 11 am, while 109 constituencies experienced similar spikes, which he believes require further investigation.

Bora demanded clarification from the ECI, stating that the victory margins between the BJP and Congress in several areas were between 40,000 and 50,000 votes.

"Such consistent patterns suggest pre-programming. Regardless of the outcome, even a single miscount raises significant concerns. The Election Commission has allowed these doubts to persist," he asserted.

Additionally, Bora questioned Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's trip to Japan prior to the vote counting.

"The Chief Minister traveled to Japan before the counting commenced. Given the Model Code of Conduct was in effect, he had no official capacity to do so. How was this visit possible?" Bora inquired.

He also challenged how the Chief Minister could accurately predict the NDA's performance before the results were revealed.

"Before the counting, he stated that the NDA would secure 101-102 seats and the BJP would achieve 81 or 82 seats. What was the basis for his prediction? The results aligned with his statements. Several BJP candidates even claimed beforehand how many votes they would win," Bora alleged.

Emphasizing the seriousness of these allegations, Bora called for a comprehensive inquiry into the conduct of the Assembly elections.