Guwahati, July 18, 2025:
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has responded sharply to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks made during a recent rally in the State, where the Congress leader suggested that certain BJP leaders would end up in jail if the INDIA bloc came to power.

Sarma, visibly unfazed, turned the tables by saying, "What is the guarantee that Rahul Gandhi won't be jailed before I am?" He dismissed Gandhi’s comments as unbecoming of a national leader and accused him of trivialising the dignity of public office.

“Coming Here and Giving Threats”: Sarma’s Sharp Words

Speaking to reporters in Guwahati, the Assam CM said,
"Coming to a State and saying whom he will send to jail or not is unbefitting of a national leader. But it does show how important I am that he chose to talk about me here."

The comment came after Rahul Gandhi, during a campaign stop in Assam, told the crowd that the INDIA alliance would launch investigations and jail corrupt leaders if it forms the government in 2029. Though he did not name Sarma directly, the reference was widely seen as being aimed at the BJP strongman from the Northeast.

Himanta: Political Maturity Needed

In his rebuttal, Sarma urged national political leaders to maintain dignity and political maturity, especially when addressing sensitive matters such as the judiciary, criminal charges, or ongoing investigations.

"The fact that he (Rahul Gandhi) is speaking like this shows a lack of understanding of the democratic process. You can’t go around declaring people guilty just because you are in the Opposition," said Sarma.

He also said that leaders should let independent institutions like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the judiciary do their jobs, instead of issuing what he called "open threats disguised as campaign speeches."

Congress Hits Back, Escalates War of Words

In response, Congress spokespersons doubled down on Rahul Gandhi’s comments, arguing that “corruption and misuse of power by BJP leaders, especially in States like Assam, will not go unpunished” if the INDIA bloc comes to power.

They cited ongoing investigations against Sarma’s associates and alleged that several files had been buried after BJP came to power both in the State and at the Centre.

However, BJP leaders countered this by pointing to the Gandhi family’s own legal troubles, including the National Herald case, ED questioning of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, and alleged violations in property and trust management.

Sarma’s Political Trajectory Under Spotlight

Himanta Biswa Sarma has emerged as a key face of the BJP in the Northeast, particularly after helping the party consolidate its presence across Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur.

A former Congress leader himself, Sarma switched sides in 2015 after a bitter power struggle in the Assam Congress. Since then, he has risen rapidly within the BJP and is now considered a close ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Congress often brings up his past to question his credibility, alleging that many cases were “miraculously forgotten” after he joined the BJP. Sarma dismisses these accusations, saying "they had nothing on me then, and they have nothing on me now."

Political Temperatures Soar Ahead of 2026 Assembly Polls

While the Lok Sabha elections of 2024 are behind us, Assam is gearing up for its next State Assembly elections in 2026. Rahul Gandhi’s recent tour of the region is being seen as the Congress's attempt to regroup and reclaim relevance in a State where it once held dominance.

Sarma's counter-attacks are part of BJP’s plan to neutralise the Congress offensive early and maintain its dominance through high-voltage narratives, frequent outreach campaigns, and aggressive social media messaging.

A Familiar Pattern of Personal Political Duels

The current verbal duel between Gandhi and Sarma is not new. Over the years, both leaders have taken repeated jabs at each other. While Sarma calls Gandhi an “entitled dynast with no real experience”, Gandhi frequently refers to Sarma as a “turncoat who sold out to power.”

These exchanges have now become a recurring feature of election seasons, particularly in the politically volatile northeast, where minor swings in voting sentiment can result in major upsets.

Conclusion: The Gloves Are Off

Rahul Gandhi’s remarks may have been aimed at energising the Congress base, but Himanta Biswa Sarma’s sharp rebuttal has escalated the political narrative, turning a generic campaign speech into a personalised slugfest.

With the 2026 Assam Assembly elections on the horizon, expect more such direct confrontations, strategic accusations, and attempts by both parties to frame the other as unfit to govern.

For now, Sarma appears confident, relying on his political capital and BJP’s electoral machinery, while Congress hopes Rahul Gandhi’s offensive rhetoric revives its grassroots momentum in the region.

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