Guwahati, March 23: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday took a fresh jibe at state Congress Chief and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi, claiming that the latter would receive more support if he contested elections from Pakistan than in Assam.
Speaking on the sidelines of an election campaign in Jalukbari, his home constituency in Guwahati, Sarma alleged that Gogoi’s support base was stronger outside India than within the state. “If Gaurav Gogoi contests elections from Pakistan, he will surely get more votes than he is getting here in Assam. He has a more supportive base in Pakistan compared to India,” the Chief Minister said.
The remark is likely to trigger sharp political reactions, as campaigning for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections gathers momentum with both the BJP and the Congress stepping up their attacks. Sarma also expressed strong confidence in the BJP’s electoral prospects, asserting that the party and its allies are headed for a decisive victory. He said the public response during campaign events across constituencies indicated overwhelming support for the ruling alliance.
“Every corner, people have come out in large numbers. There is no doubt that voters will bring the BJP back to power,” he said. The Chief Minister added that the scale of public participation this time was unprecedented, suggesting a wave of support for the BJP-led alliance. He also claimed that, unlike in previous elections, he was not actively seeking votes but was instead witnessing people voluntarily turning out to bless BJP candidates.
“This time, I am not seeking votes. People are coming out in large numbers to bless BJP candidates,” Sarma said. Projecting a strong performance, he further claimed that the BJP-led alliance could cross the 100-seat mark in the Assembly, indicating a comfortable majority. The elections for the 126-member Assam assembly will take place on April 9 in a single phase. The vote count will take place on May 4. The BJP has candidates in 90 seats, while the remaining seats were left to its two allies—Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF).
IANS
