Political Leaders' Families Draw Criticism Amid Assam Rivalry

As political tensions rise in Assam, Rita Chaudhary, wife of a senior minister, has spoken out against the troubling trend of involving family members in political disputes. Amid accusations exchanged between Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, Chaudhary's remarks highlight the need for a more respectful political discourse. She hopes that society will soon reject this negative practice, emphasizing the importance of keeping personal lives separate from political battles. This commentary comes at a time when family ties are being scrutinized in the political arena, raising questions about the ethics of such actions.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 31, 2025, 09:26 IST

Critique of Family Involvement in Political Disputes

In a climate where prominent political figures in Assam are exchanging accusations involving each other's families, the wife of a senior cabinet minister has condemned this trend of dragging spouses and children into political controversies.

Rita Chaudhary, a renowned author and former director of the National Book Trust of India, who is also married to senior BJP leader and minister Chandra Mohan Patwari, criticized the recent inclination to involve family members in political rhetoric.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, she expressed her opposition to the tendency of unnecessarily involving family members in politics, labeling it as a mindset of low standards.

Chaudhary, who serves as the editor of an Assamese literary magazine, expressed hope that this negative trend would soon come to an end in society. Her remarks came amid an ongoing dispute between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi.

Sarma has accused Gogoi's British-born wife, Elizabeth Colburn, of having ties to Pakistan and raised questions regarding the citizenship of their two children. In response, Gogoi has questioned the business transactions involving Sarma's wife and children.