Kunki Chowdhury, a candidate in the Assam Assembly elections, was called in for questioning at the Pan Bazar police station in Guwahati on Sunday. This was in connection with a case filed against her campaign team for purportedly breaching the Model Code of Conduct.
The Assam Police had apprehended three members of her campaign team shortly after the polling concluded on Thursday, which led to the investigation. Chowdhury, representing the Congress-affiliated Assam Jatiya Parishad from the Guwahati Central constituency, is notable for being the youngest contender in the Assam elections at the age of 27. She has denied all charges against her.
Initially gaining attention as a youthful newcomer in the electoral race against 70-year-old BJP candidate Vijay Gupta, Chowdhury’s candidacy took a more controversial turn when Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma publicly accused her family of “insulting Hindus” due to their alleged consumption of beef and social media posts. Additionally, Sarma claimed that Chowdhury’s mother had openly supported controversial figures Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam.
On Saturday, Chowdhury received a summons to appear at the Pan Bazar police station for questioning regarding allegations lodged under sections of the BNS, which address obstruction of public servant orders and the punishment for undue influence or impersonation in elections, alongside violations of the Representation of the People Act.
According to Central Guwahati Deputy Commissioner of Police Shambhavi Mishra, the case stemmed from a complaint suggesting that the detained campaign members, who are originally from Haryana, were present in the constituency in violation of regulations that mandate political workers from outside the area to depart 48 hours prior to voting. The DCP noted that Chowdhury was accused of continuing her campaign activities on polling day and of having her personal security officer accompany her to polling locations.
After her police questioning on Sunday, Chowdhury expressed her views, stating, “An FIR has been filed based on false claims, and I am glad to have been summoned to provide my statement. I have complete faith in the system and trust that the investigation will be conducted fairly.”
Lurinjyoti Gogoi, the leader of the Assam Jatiya Parishad, characterized the case and the summons as “administrative pressure” aimed at a candidate. He commented, “Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the BJP are utilizing administrative and police resources for political advantage. This poses a serious threat to democratic principles. The BJP appears to be attempting to stifle the Opposition’s voice through intimidation and coercion. They are fearful of the potential success of the AJP candidate in Central Guwahati and have resorted to intimidation tactics. However, it is crucial to remember that intimidation cannot conceal the truth indefinitely. We want to assure courageous young women like Kunki Chowdhury that they are not alone; many democratically minded individuals in Assam stand with her,” he remarked.
