Tensions erupted at an AJP campaign rally in Guwahati when a group of youths allegedly protested over social media content linked to the family of AJP candidate Kunki Chowdhury, turning an online controversy into a visible flashpoint in the city’s election campaign. According to reports, protesters objected to visuals said to show the consumption of beef, which they claimed hurt religious sentiments.
The visuals at the centre of the dispute were earlier circulated by Assam minister and BJP candidate from Jagiroad, Pijush Hazarika, a move that intensified the political row between the parties. The issue gained further public attention after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma publicly questioned posts attributed to Chowdhury’s mother, Sujata Gurung Chowdhury, saying certain images and accompanying remarks were offensive to Hindu sentiments and inconsistent with Assam’s cultural sensitivities. The Chief Minister also linked those past social media positions to other politically sensitive issues and individuals.
The AJP has rejected the allegations as an attempt to malign the candidate’s image. Party sources say the controversy is being used to distract from the campaign and undermine growing local support for Chowdhury. The BJP, for its part, has pressed the opposition on what it calls a disregard for majority sentiments, continuing to frame the matter as one of cultural sensitivity.
Kunki Chowdhury has strongly denied the charges, calling them baseless and politically motivated. She emphasised that she entered electoral politics only recently and said voter response in Guwahati Central had been encouraging; she accused rivals of resorting to personal attacks to derail her campaign.
Observers say the incident illustrates how social media disputes can quickly spill into street protests during a charged election season. What began as disputed online posts has now become a contested issue on the ground, complicating campaigning in Guwahati and sharpening tensions between the AJP and the BJP.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/elections/video/youth-protest-erupts-at-ajps-kunki-chowdhury-rally-in-guwahati-over-beef-post-controversy-1370145-2026-04-04?utm_source=rssfeed
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-04-04 09:14:00
