Congress Leader Claims Victory in Assam Elections Amidst Corruption Allegations
Congress President's Bold Predictions for Assam Elections
On Tuesday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge asserted that the coalition led by Congress would secure at least 72 seats in the upcoming Assam assembly elections. Speaking at a press conference in Guwahati, Kharge launched a fierce critique against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, labeling him as corrupt and arrogant. He accused Sarma of operating a network involving companies, tea estates, and resorts, while also granting land to his close associates. Kharge characterized the 2026 Assam elections as a contest between the public and Sarma.
Kharge emphasized the need for change, framing the election as a battle between the people and Himanta Biswa Sarma. He stated that their survey team has gathered data from the grassroots level, predicting a win of 72-73 seats. He urged the public to cast their votes on April 9 and support Congress to bring about a governmental shift. He called for the removal of what he termed a corrupt administration, asserting that no one is as corrupt and arrogant as the current Chief Minister. He noted that the people of Assam cherish their culture and traditions and do not desire a rude and arrogant leader. Instead of serving the public, Sarma is focused solely on his own development, having distributed coal and thousands of bighas of land to his friends.
Referring to Sarma as the "adopted son" of the BJP, Kharge questioned why the central government has not initiated an investigation into the corruption allegations against him. He pointed out that Sarma's supporters mock Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi by calling him the Chief Minister's son, urging a comparison of Gogoi's family's 15-year wealth with Sarma's five-year accumulation. Kharge challenged Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat to address the corruption issues, highlighting the contradiction in their claims of zero tolerance for corruption while Sarma continues his alleged misconduct without scrutiny.
Following the filing of an FIR against Pawan Khera related to allegations against Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, Assam police visited Khera's residence. In response, Kharge stated that the party would confront these challenges. He also demanded clarification from the government regarding Riniki Bhuyan Sarma's passport. He remarked that the government, which has a dual-engine setup with the foreign minister from their party, should provide answers. Kharge concluded by stating that if arrests are intended, they should proceed, as the party is prepared to face the situation. He criticized the ED and CBI for allegedly harassing individuals and later integrating them into the party.