BJP Slams Congress Over Rs 50,000 Fee for Ticket Aspirants in Assam

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a sharp attack on the Congress after reports emerged that the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) is seeking a payment of Rs 50,000 from party members aspiring for Assembly election tickets, triggering a fresh political controversy ahead of the 2026 Assam polls.
Reacting strongly, BJP leaders accused the Congress of turning the ticket distribution process into a “pay-to-play” exercise and questioned the party’s commitment to democratic and inclusive politics. BJP spokespersons said the move exposed what they described as the Congress’s “double standards” on issues of transparency and social justice.
The criticism follows a circular reportedly issued by the APCC inviting applications from Congress members seeking party tickets for the Assembly elections, making the submission of a Rs 50,000 demand draft mandatory along with the application. The application process is understood to be open for a limited period.
BJP leaders, including members of the party’s central leadership, alleged that such a fee could discourage grassroots workers and financially weaker aspirants from seeking tickets, thereby favouring those with greater monetary resources. They also targeted senior Congress leaders, claiming the decision contradicted the party’s public stance against money power in politics.
The Congress, however, has defended the move, stating that the amount is an application fee meant to streamline the candidate selection process and support organisational activities. Party sources have maintained that the fee does not guarantee a ticket and that candidates will be selected based on merit and winnability.
The issue has sparked debate within political circles in Assam, with opposition parties using it to step up their attacks on the Congress, while sections within the party are said to be uneasy about the optics of the decision ahead of the crucial election.
With the Assembly polls drawing closer, the controversy is expected to add to the growing war of words between the BJP and the Congress, as both parties intensify their campaigns across the State.