Chamaria, Assam: A routine visit by Chhaygaon Congress MLA Rekibuddin Ahmed turned chaotic on Wednesday evening when a crowd of furious villagers chased him out of Santoli Bazar in the newly created 27 No. Chamaria constituency.
Hundreds of local residents intercepted Ahmed while he was en route to Bodla, raising “go back” slogans and accusing him of maintaining an “unholy nexus” with the BJP. Many protesters alleged that Ahmed is close to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, branding him a “BJP agent.”
Most of the protesters belonged to the Bengali-speaking minority community, which forms nearly 95 percent of the Chamaria constituency. They claimed that despite repeated eviction drives, demolition of homes, and administrative harassment under the current government, Ahmed had not raised their concerns in the Assembly or taken a public stand on issues affecting them. Residents also criticised Ahmed for being an “outsider” to the region.
Chamaria, previously split between the erstwhile Chhaygaon and Boko constituencies, has historically never elected a truly local candidate since Independence, according to the villagers. They urged the Congress leadership to nominate a local face for the upcoming polls, alleging that reserved-seat constraints in Boko and non-local candidates in Chhaygaon have sidelined local representation.
Caught off guard by the backlash, Ahmed was compelled to leave the area as the crowd grew more aggressive, with security personnel escorting him from the unruly mob.
The incident highlights rising political tensions in Assam’s Chamaria constituency, where local representation and perceived political affiliations remain key concerns among voters ahead of the elections.
