Guwahati, March 23 — Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday mocked state Congress chief and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi, saying Gogoi would receive more support if he contested elections from Pakistan than from Assam. The remark came as the BJP steps up campaigning ahead of the state assembly polls and is likely to inflame political rhetoric between the parties.
Sarma made the comment on the sidelines of an election campaign in his Jalukbari constituency in Guwahati, alleging that Gogoi’s support base was stronger outside India than within Assam. “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 jibe comes as campaigning for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections intensifies, with both the BJP and the Congress increasing attacks on each other. Sarma used the occasion to express strong confidence in the BJP’s chances, saying the party and its allies are headed for a decisive victory and pointing to large crowds at campaign events as evidence of popular support.
“Every corner, people have come out in large numbers. There is no doubt that voters will bring the BJP back to power,” Sarma said, adding that public participation this election has been unprecedented. He also claimed he was not actively seeking votes this time but instead witnessing people voluntarily turning out “to bless BJP candidates.”
Projecting a strong performance for the ruling alliance, Sarma said the BJP-led coalition could cross the 100-seat mark in the 126-member Assembly, indicating a comfortable majority. The elections will be held in a single phase on April 9, with vote counting scheduled for May 4. The BJP is contesting 90 seats while the remaining constituencies have been allotted to its allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF).
The comment targeting Gogoi, a prominent Congress leader, is likely to trigger sharp political reactions as both parties escalate campaigning in the run-up to polling. (IANS)
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/03/23/gaurav-gogoi-would-have-received-more-votes-if-he-contested-from-pakistan-cm-sarma/
Category: NATIONAL,News Alert,REGIONAL
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Publish Date: 2026-03-23 21:29:00
