Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday launched a sharp political attack on the Congress, claiming that the party has “finished” in the state and that recent allegations raised by its leaders have backfired politically.Speaking amid an ongoing war of words, Sarma said informal “satta bazar” trends now show a rise in projected seats for the BJP-led NDA alliance. According to him, the alliance’s tally moved from 94 seats in the morning to 99 by night after the controversy gained attention. He claimed this reflected a growing shift in public support in favour of the ruling alliance.The Chief Minister also warned of possible legal consequences for senior Congress leaders, particularly Pawan Khera. He said a police complaint has already been filed and that law enforcement agencies will take a call on further action. “It is for the police to decide whether to arrest him or not,” Sarma said, adding that the matter amounts to “a crime against the country.”
Referring to remarks made by Rahul Gandhi, Sarma noted that the Congress leader had used the term “alleged” in his statements. However, he maintained that the primary responsibility for the controversy lies with Khera, who had addressed the press on the issue.Sarma further claimed that he had prior information about the developments. He said that on March 27, he had informally alerted a journalist that “something was about to happen.” According to him, the matter has since been brought to the notice of the Government of India. In a more serious allegation, the Chief Minister questioned the source of the material used by Congress leaders. He alleged that Pakistani social media platforms were relied upon to build the claims. He also targeted Gaurav Gogoi, asking why “Pakistan is helping” him and suggesting links with such networks.
Sarma said he has been raising concerns about possible foreign attempts to influence Assam’s political process since July. He framed the issue as one involving national security, rather than just a political dispute between parties. “Why did you take help from a Pakistani social media group?” he asked.Drawing a parallel with past political episodes, Sarma alleged that the Congress has earlier used similar tactics to target opponents. He referred to an earlier case involving the son of former Prime Minister V. P. Singh, suggesting a pattern of using questionable material in political campaigns.The Chief Minister said the state government is prepared to pursue the matter legally and may approach the courts if required. He asserted that those responsible for creating and spreading what he described as fabricated content would face strict action under the law.