Bhupen Borah accuses BJP of undermining rural democracy; APCC pledges funding and power to gram panchayats in manifesto
Guwahati, April 18: Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhupen Kumar Borah on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the BJP, accusing it of systematically weakening the Panchayati raj system in the state. Releasing the party’s manifesto for the upcoming panchayat elections, Borah said the BJP “does not believe” in grassroots democracy.
“Panchayati raj was a vision of Mahatma Gandhi and made a reality by Rajiv Gandhi through a constitutional amendment. But BJP has no respect for this system,” Borah said, addressing reporters in Guwahati.
The manifesto was released ahead of panchayat polls scheduled for May 2 and 7. The Congress manifesto promises a clear shift toward decentralization, vowing to empower Gram Panchayats with more autonomy and assured funding. Key pledges include a minimum of 100 days of job security and increased wages under MGNREGA, regular and direct funding for panchayats to implement welfare schemes, and completion of stalled PMAY housing projects.
Borah also accused the BJP government of using state machinery to manipulate the election process. “They forced candidates to withdraw nominations in places like Nagaon, Morigaon, Gohpur, and Lakhimpur,” he alleged. “This is not democracy—it’s intimidation. But the people of Assam will respond at the ballot.”
Former MP Ripun Bora, who chaired the manifesto committee, added that many development schemes initiated during Congress rule had been abandoned. “The BJP runs just three schemes, all for show. And in ten years, only 1% of MGNREGA job card holders got the guaranteed 100 workdays,” he said.
Criticizing the BJP’s “one nation, one election” pitch, Ripun Bora said, “They don’t want to give power to panchayats, that’s why they want to centralize everything.”
The event was attended by senior Congress leaders including Nripen Thakuria, Deep Bayon, and manifesto committee members Bedbrat Bora, Prafulla Kumar Das, and Arupjyoti Bhuyan.
