Guwahati: Assam witnessed a fierce political showdown on Tuesday as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a direct attack on Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, vowing to send him to jail if Congress returns to power in the 2026 Assembly elections. The fiery statement, made during a public meeting in Chaygaon—a Bangladeshi origin Muslim-dominated constituency—has sparked sharp rebuttals from the ruling BJP, turning the political temperature in the state up several notches.
Addressing party workers and supporters, Rahul Gandhi declared, “The Chief Minister of Assam is the most corrupt Chief Minister of India. And in a short time, the lions of Congress will send him to jail.” He alleged that CM Sarma was gripped by fear, saying, “The fear is visible in his eyes—because this time, neither Modi nor Shah will be able to save him.”
In a statement soon after the rally, CM Sarma hit back strongly, questioning Rahul Gandhi’s moral standing to talk about corruption. “I heard that the Gandhi family is out on bail in a Rs 5,000 crore National Herald scam. You will be remembered as one of the most corrupt Congress presidents of India,” CM Sarma said.
The Assam Chief Minister didn’t stop there. Taking a personal dig, he added, “Frankly, I don’t care about what you say—because I know, and the country knows, that you are one of the most corrupt leaders in India today.”
CM Sarma also said Rahul Gandhi seemed more focused on criticising him than talking about issues affecting Assam. “He mentioned my name repeatedly in all his meetings. I must say, I am grateful—because today, he has elevated my political stature to a level I might never have reached had I remained in the Congress party.”
BJP spokesperson Syed Zafar Islam also came to the Chief Minister’s defence, launching a scathing attack on the Congress leader. “This is like a thief talking about security,” Islam said, referring to the National Herald case. “Wherever Rahul goes, he spreads lawlessness—be it Bihar or Assam. The ‘Rahul model’ has failed in every state.”
Islam accused Rahul Gandhi of playing the blame game after electoral setbacks and criticised him for questioning institutions like the Election Commission. “The EVM narrative is outdated, and now it’s all about blaming the ECI. The people of India are tired of these tactics,” he added.
The verbal duel comes at a time when Assam is bracing for political shifts and realignments ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. With both the BJP and Congress preparing their pitches to the voters, such fiery exchanges are expected to become more frequent and intense.
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