Dholai: ”Is your father the owner of these businesses?”, Cong MLA Rekibuddin snubs back at Mallabaruah

“Is your father the owner of the business that you can threaten to shut down if we don’t vote for you?”, this is how the Congress side is responding to the BJP Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah’s recent fearmongering and scare tactics to gather minority votes defying the norms of the Model Code Of Conduct.

Tensions are rising in the Dholai by-election as Congress leaders publicly condemn BJP Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah for remarks seen as intimidation against businesses. At a rally on November 7, Mallabaruah, campaigning for BJP candidate Niharanjan Das, suggested that businesses not supporting BJP might face closure, sparking an intense backlash from Congress leaders who allege a breach of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

In a response on November 9 at Bhaga Bazar, Congress MLA Rekibuddin Ahmed, campaigning for Dholai Congress candidate Dhrubajyoti Purkayastha, fiercely criticized Mallabaruah’s statements. “Is your father the owner of the business that you can threaten to shut it down if we don’t vote for you?” Ahmed retorted, adding, “People don’t pay attention to such threats. In 2026, our government will be in power, and we will hold everyone accountable.”

The statements by both sides have deepened the divide in Dholai’s political landscape, with Congress framing Mallabaruah’s comments as an example of BJP’s alleged strong-arm tactics. Ahmed’s comments have resonated with voters frustrated by Mallabaruah’s statement, which the Congress claims is designed to coerce minority votes.

So far the District Election Officer (DEO) of Cachar, IAS Mirdul Yadav has not taken any steps against the defying of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by BJP’s Jayanta Mallabaruah. Is the DEO unaware of the MCC or is it because the violator belongs to the ruling party?