GUWAHATI — Tensions in Assam’s political landscape escalated this week as Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a blistering attack on Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi. The CM has challenged the opposition leader to publicly disclose details of alleged undisclosed income and properties held in the United Kingdom, Pakistan, and the United States.
During a press briefing, Sarma questioned Gogoi’s financial transparency, citing reports and discussions—some purportedly from Pakistani media—that raise questions about the MP’s overseas holdings.
Chief Minister Sarma urged Gogoi to step forward and provide a full accounting of his wealth to the public. He specifically dared the Congress leader to present his bank account details and foreign property records before a panel of four senior journalists from Assam.
“He should come forward and declare all his assets, including those abroad. Why hasn’t he disclosed details of any alleged properties in Pakistan or England?” Sarma asked.
The CM alleged that Gogoi has failed to mention these international links in his mandatory financial disclosures, suggesting a lack of transparency regarding his global footprint.
Turning his attention to the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, Sarma expressed supreme confidence in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). He projected a landslide victory that would effectively marginalize the opposition.
Sarma predicted that the NDA could secure more than 90 seats, with the possibility of crossing the 100-seat mark in the 126-member Assembly. In contrast, he projected a dismal performance for the Congress party, stating they would likely be restricted to just 15 or 16 seats.
Furthermore, he estimated that the AIUDF could win between five and six seats, while other regional parties might secure only one or two. Sarma asserted that the BJP’s “governance record and development agenda” would be the primary driver for voters.
Attacks on the Congress Manifesto
The Chief Minister also took aim at the Congress party’s policy platform. He alleged that if voted to power, the Congress intended to grant land rights to “Miya” settlers, a highly contentious issue in Assam’s identity-based politics.
Sarma framed the upcoming election as a choice between the BJP’s developmental path and what he characterized as the opposition’s “land and identity” policies that favor specific settler groups.
As of now, Gaurav Gogoi and the Congress party have yet to issue a formal rebuttal to the Chief Minister’s specific allegations regarding foreign assets.
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