Assam, Apr 06 : With the first phase of voting scheduled for April 9, the political atmosphere in Assam has turned sharply contentious, driven by a high-profile war of words between the ruling BJP and the Congress.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has strongly rejected allegations levelled against his wife, Rinki Bhuiyan Sarma, describing them as baseless and part of a larger attempt to derail the electoral process. The controversy erupted after Congress leaders raised questions about her alleged financial holdings and personal documentation during press briefings held in New Delhi and Guwahati.
Senior Congress figure Gaurav Gogoi claimed that Rinki Bhuiyan Sarma holds multiple passports and is linked to assets worth ₹52,000 crore through a firm reportedly based in Wyoming, USA. The assertions quickly triggered a political storm, drawing sharp reactions from the ruling side.
Responding forcefully, Sarma alleged that the claims were rooted in dubious foreign sources. He stated that preliminary findings suggest the information used by Congress may have originated from a Pakistani social media network. He further claimed that media outlets in Pakistan have unusually amplified coverage of the Assam elections in recent days, interpreting it as a coordinated effort to influence public opinion.
Amid escalating tensions, an FIR has been lodged by Rinki Bhuiyan Sarma, who termed the accusations “fabricated and defamatory.” The Chief Minister warned that the use of forged documents in an electoral context could invite strict legal consequences under provisions related to fraud and forgery.
Dismissing the allegations of offshore assets and shell companies, Sarma argued that creating entities abroad is relatively and suggested that such claims could be easily manipulated. He maintained that the documents circulated by his political opponents were not authentic and accused them of attempting to mislead voters.
As Assam heads into a crucial electoral phase, the controversy has added a fresh layer of intensity to an already heated campaign, with both sides trading serious charges just days before polling.