Himanta’s arch-rival showers praise on Assam CM for his flood relief work

In a rare show of appreciation cutting across political rivalry, Raijor Dal president and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi praised Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for personally wading through waist-deep floodwaters to assess the ground situation in the district.

Gogoi, a vocal critic of the BJP-led Assam government and one of Sarma’s fiercest political opponents, said the Chief Minister’s visit marked a historic moment, claiming that it was the first time he had witnessed an Assam chief minister personally walking barefoot through such severely inundated areas during a flood.

Speaking to reporters after accompanying Sarma through the flood-hit region, Gogoi said he was grateful that he could show the Chief Minister the actual situation faced by residents without any “red-carpet arrangements” or visits conducted from the safety of heavy machinery.

“This will be the first time in the history of Assam that a chief minister surveyed a flooded area while heading towards Phuleshwari School, which was inundated up to the waist, walking barefoot,” Gogoi said.

“I am grateful that I was able to show him the real situation in the district as it is—not through a red carpet or while riding on a JCB,” he added.

Gogoi said he held the Chief Minister’s hand and guided him through the waist-deep water, describing the visit as an unprecedented moment for Sivasagar.

“Today, I held the Assam Chief Minister’s hand and made him walk through waist-deep floodwater. He is a very powerful man and an expert. I have not seen any chief minister till date who can move through water like this. I have to give him credit,” the Raijor Dal leader said.

The Sivasagar MLA said the Chief Minister’s decision to enter the inundated area on foot enabled him to witness the scale of devastation firsthand and understand the hardships faced by flood-affected residents.

“This happened in Sivasagar, and for me, it is history that the Assam Chief Minister walked through waist-deep floodwater during the floods,” Gogoi said.

Sarma has been touring flood-ravaged areas of Upper Assam, particularly Sivasagar and Charaideo districts, where the recent deluge caused extensive damage to homes, roads, agricultural land and livelihoods. 

During his visits, the Chief Minister interacted with affected families, inspected relief camps and assured residents that the government would provide assistance for rehabilitation and recovery.