In a surprising turn of events, BJP candidate from Assam's Gauripur constituency, Banendra Kumar Mushahary, has claimed that beef is the "National Dish" of India.

"How can anyone try to ban beef? It is the National Dish of India," he said while addressing an election meeting in a Muslim-dominated area.

He added that beef is an international dish and "educated Muslims in the rural areas of Assam should understand that no one can ban the sale of beef in Assam or anywhere in India."

Notably, the BJP has always been campaigning for beef ban across the country. Mushahary's statement greatly contradicts the party's ideologies and principles.

Mushahary, a veteran politician, joined the BJP last year in December. He was first elected  to the Assam Legislative Assembly in 1996 as an independent candidate from Gauripur constituency in Dhubri district.

In 2011, he was elected as an AGP candidate from Gauripur. Later, he joined the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) and was elected as an MLA for the third time.

Meanwhile, BJP workers in the districts have expressed serious concern on Mushahary's remarks and demanded that he tender an apology.

Moreover, members of Purbanchal Hindu Aikya Mancha filed an FIR at Dispur police station and demanded actions against the BJP candidate for violating Model Code of Conduct which was enforced in February 26 in poll-bound Assam.