Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Challenges Congress Over Demand to Return to Ballot Papers

Guwahati: Amid growing public anger and protests across the country over alleged electoral system tampering and irregularities, Assam Chief Minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma has challenged the Congress over its demand to return to ballot papers.

Sarma said he would support a return to the ballot paper system only if Congress governments elected through EVMs were willing to resign. Pointing out that the Congress came to power in Keralam, Karnataka and Telangana through EVM-based elections, he demanded that these governments step down and seek a fresh mandate through ballot papers.

The Assam Chief Minister also reiterated remarks that fuel communal polarisation. Claiming that illegal immigration was causing demographic changes in states such as Assam, West Bengal and Jharkhand, Sarma argued that a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls should be conducted every five years to remove such people from voter lists.