Gaurav Gogoi flags EVM concerns post defeat

Guwahati: Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi has raised doubts about EVMs after Congress’s defeat, even as AICC general secretary Jitendra Singh on Saturday said AICC has decided to constitute a special committee to analyse the reasons behind the defeat.


Congress MLAs were reduced to 19, and the party managed to win in only Muslim-majority seats.


APCC on Saturday held a special review meeting in Guwahati that examined the reasons behind the party’s poor performance in the elections. The discussions focused on allegations that the Election Commission helped the ruling side instead of remaining neutral, the politicisation of beneficiary schemes, and the party’s organisational weaknesses.


However, Gogoi specifically highlighted alleged discrepancies in EVMs. “We wanted to know what kind of battery or technology exists inside the EVMs that the charge never decreases. Despite repeatedly raising these allegations, why has no clarification been provided?” Gogoi said.


He also said there were doubts about the voter list.


While reviewing the party’s failures, Gogoi asked workers to start preparing immediately for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.


AICC general secretary Jitendra Singh, who resigned as Assam in-charge after the heavy defeat, said Gaurav had only 11 months after taking charge as president to prepare for the elections, but had made every possible effort in that short time.


Speaking to journalists, Gogoi said he had appealed to the party’s central leadership and that the APCC would accept whatever suggestions it gives in the coming days on organisational strength and strategy.