On the eve of the Assam Assembly elections 2026, fresh allegations have emerged regarding the arrival of large numbers of “suspicious” individuals from outside the state, raising concerns about possible voter irregularities.
Reports suggest that thousands of people have been entering Assam by trains and buses, particularly in areas such as Barpeta Road, Bongaigaon, and Dhubri. Railway stations and transport hubs have reportedly seen heavy crowds, with many arrivals taking place late at night.
According to claims by locals, several of these individuals were unable to speak Assamese or identify their constituencies, leading to doubts about their eligibility as voters.
Some of those questioned reportedly said they were voters from constituencies like Mandia, Chenga, Kalagachia, and Howly, and that they work outside the state. However, concerns have been raised about their identity and documentation.
During ground reporting, a journalist from a private news channel interacted with some of these individuals, observing that many could not speak Assamese. One person claimed that nearly 50,000 people had come from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to vote, while another said he had spent most of his life in Nagpur and had come to Assam only to cast his vote.
Amid these developments, Congress candidate from Dispur, Mira Borthakur, also made similar allegations on Wednesday. In a video message, she claimed that individuals from outside the state had approached her offering to arrange voters. According to her, a person identifying himself as being from Uttar Pradesh contacted her and asked if she needed voters, even offering to arrange a few people.
Borthakur reiterated her earlier claims that buses were transporting people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh into Assam and said she now has “proof” of such attempts.
There have also been longstanding allegations of illegal infiltration and the use of forged documents. It is often claimed that some individuals enter Assam illegally, obtain fake identity documents, and work in other states before returning during elections to cast votes.
Repeated accusations have also been made that such individuals are used as a vote bank by certain political parties, although these claims remain contested and unverified.
