As Assam prepares for the 2026 Assembly elections, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), led by president Gaurav Gogoi, has launched a robust campaign titled Vote Chore, Gaddi Chore to counter alleged voter list manipulation ahead of the state’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The initiative, which kicked off today with statewide candlelight marches, aims to safeguard the democratic process by training 29,000 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to detect and prevent electoral fraud.

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The two-week campaign, announced on Wednesday in Jorhat, responds to concerns over voter list irregularities, drawing parallels with alleged manipulations in Bihar, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. Gogoi revealed that the first round of BLA training has already concluded, with a week-long program planned across 35 districts by August’s end.

“We’re equipping our agents with evidence of voter list tampering from other states, including data from Rahul Gandhi’s team,” Gogoi told reporters, emphasizing the need for vigilance to protect the integrity of Assam’s 28,800 polling booths. The campaign will culminate on August 31 with a mega workers’ meet in Dibrugarh, themed Vote Chore, Gaddi Chore - Choki Erok.

From August 24 to 30, representatives from all polling booths will undergo specialized training to identify voter theft, fraud, and misrepresentation, such as duplicate voters or invalid addresses. The Congress is also strengthening its legal team to support BLAs in filing claims and objections during the SIR process. Gogoi’s strategy builds on earlier allegations of tampering, citing cases where voters from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls couldn’t find their names in subsequent local elections.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, however, defended the SIR, stating it would address errors like the inclusion of deceased individuals or married women who have relocated, particularly in char (riverine) areas where voting percentages often reach 100%. “Linking voter lists with Aadhaar will clean up these discrepancies,” Sarma said, noting that training for Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will begin within a week.

The campaign has sparked debate, with posts on X highlighting Congress’s proactive stance against “vote theft” and its legal preparations. Yet, skepticism persists about the feasibility of monitoring 2.43 crore electors across 126 constituencies, especially after the 2023 delimitation. As Assam gears up for a contentious election, the Vote Chore, Gaddi Chore campaign signals Congress’s aggressive push to challenge the BJP’s dominance while raising critical questions about electoral transparency.

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