Rahul in Assam Has Left a Mark — And CM Sarma Is Clearly Feeling It

In what may be the strongest indication yet of deepening political fissures in Assam’s battle-scarred narrative, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday delivered a volley of remarks that seemed aimed not just at the Congress leadership — but at its very ideological core.

Following Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s high-profile tour of Assam on Wednesday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma alleged that six Congress leaders had privately messaged him on WhatsApp, expressing unease over their party’s apparent support for illegal immigration.

“They told me that backing infiltrators was a grave mistake. Even they understand where their party is heading,” the Chief Minister claimed, though no names were mentioned.

The question arises: is there truly dissent brewing within the Congress ranks in Assam — or was this a strategic narrative crafted by the CM to plant seeds of doubt within the opposition?

Observers point out that Sarma’s comments, coming so soon after Rahul Gandhi’s interaction with evicted families and his sharp criticism of BJP policies, may be an attempt to reclaim the ideological upper ground — particularly in a state where identity, migration, and land remain explosive electoral issues.

Sarma also criticised the Congress for choosing to hold their public meeting in what he described as a “Muslim-dominated area known for the presence of infiltrators.” The choice of words — “अगर उनमें साहस था, तो वह गुवाहाटी में करते” — appeared to frame the Congress’s move as a calculated play for communal vote banks.

“They didn’t dare come to Guwahati. Instead, they held it in a place where many infiltrators reside,” he said.

This framing raises strategic questions: was the CM attempting to communalise the Congress’s outreach efforts — or preemptively discredit the growing traction Rahul Gandhi may have gained in vulnerable pockets of the electorate?

In an even more incendiary charge, Sarma alleged that top Congress leaders in Assam — and even their families — hold foreign citizenship.

“They are not just Pakistan-lovers. Their entire families, including their children, are foreign nationals. If your own kids are foreigners, how will you ever care about Assam’s children?”

The comment, unverified and sweeping in its nature, could be a political provocation designed to stir nationalist sentiments — or it could be aimed at undermining the Congress’s claim of standing for indigenous rights in Assam.

In what appeared to be a personal contrast drawn with Rahul Gandhi, Sarma asserted his Assamese identity:

“Unlike him, I am Assamese. Born here. Raised by this land, by its soil and soul.”

Could this be a move to consolidate emotional loyalty in the Assamese heartland — especially amid growing criticism of evictions, land alienation, and corporate interests under the current regime?

While the Congress party has not issued an official rebuttal to these latest remarks, insiders suggest that Sarma’s sharp rhetoric may be a sign of discomfort following Rahul Gandhi’s successful foray into politically sensitive areas.

Political analysts also speculate whether the Chief Minister’s aggressive posture is a reaction to shifting ground realities in Assam — especially as opposition alliances begin to coalesce in the run-up to the 2026 Assembly elections.

Is this the beginning of a more intense ideological war over Assam’s identity — or merely pre-election theatrics by a seasoned political actor sensing a credible threat?

As the verbal warfare intensifies, one thing is clear: Assam’s political temperature is rising, and the battle for its narrative — and its future — is far from over.

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