"Wrong choice of campaigner": Assam CM slams Congress over Mallikarjun Kharge's visit to state

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on March 29 took a dig at Congress party over the visit of its national president Mallikarjun Kharge to the state for election campaigning, questioning both the choice of leadership and past positions attributed to him.

Addressing the media, Sarma said that the Congress, by projecting Kharge as a key campaign face in Assam, had made a strategic error. “By bringing Kharge, Congress has struck an axe on its own foot,” the Chief Minister remarked.

He further alleged that Kharge had previously opposed the conferment of the Bharat Ratna on Assam’s cultural icon Bhupen Hazarika.

Sarma also stated that Kharge had opposed the establishment of the proposed semiconductor project in Assam, an initiative the state government has highlighted as a major step towards industrial and technological advancement.

Raising concerns over the Congress party’s campaign strategy, the Chief Minister asked, “Is this the kind of person you make a star campaigner in Assam?”

Mallikarjun Kharge is set to release the Congress manifesto for the April 9 Assam Assembly elections on Sunday in Lakhimpur, as the party steps up its campaign in the state. The announcement was made by Jitendra Singh, who outlined the party’s preparations and strategy ahead of the polls.

Addressing a press conference, Singh said the manifesto has been prepared after months of groundwork, with party leaders and workers engaging with people across Assam to incorporate public concerns and expectations. He confirmed that Kharge will unveil the document during his visit to Lakhimpur district, where he is also scheduled to address an election rally.

Singh criticised the BJP-led state government, alleging an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. “People are in fear everywhere. If someone makes a social media post critical of the government, the police reach their doorstep before the end of the day,” Singh claimed.

Taking aim at Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Singh accused him of focusing more on the Congress than his own party during public interactions. He also alleged internal divisions within the BJP, claiming the party has split into two camps — one aligned with the Chief Minister and another representing what he termed the “original” BJP.