Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Sarma and Gogoi Clash Over Jail Remarks and Election Campaigns
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi exchanged sharp remarks.
Gogoi said Sarma could face a case and be sent to jail if Rahul Gandhi became prime minister.
Sarma responded by questioning how that could happen before the next Lok Sabha election, which he said is scheduled for 2029.
He argued that politicians should talk about issues that matter to voters.
He mentioned roads, schools, colleges and welfare schemes.
Sarma also said ordinary people, not prisoners, decide elections.
The disagreement comes as the BJP and Congress are attacking each other more strongly in Assam.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma criticized Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi’s remarks about sending him to jail.
Gogoi had said a case would be filed against Sarma if Rahul Gandhi became prime minister, and Sarma would then be jailed.
Sarma questioned how Gandhi could become prime minister before the next scheduled Lok Sabha election in 2029.
Sarma said election campaigns should focus on voter concerns such as roads, schools, colleges and welfare schemes.
The exchange reflects escalating attacks between the ruling BJP and Congress in Assam.
- Who
- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, with Rahul Gandhi also mentioned.
- What
- Sarma responded to Gogoi’s claim that Sarma could be prosecuted and jailed if Gandhi became prime minister.
- When
- Sarma made his remarks on Saturday; Gogoi had made his claim on Thursday.
- Where
- Assam, India.
- Why
- The leaders are disputing each other’s remarks amid heightened political activity and competing campaign messages in Assam.
Congress's claim
Sarma's response
Possible prosecution of Sarma
Congress's claim
Gaurav Gogoi said a case would be filed against Sarma if Rahul Gandhi became prime minister, and alleged Sarma would then be sent to jail.
Sarma's response
Sarma rejected the framing and questioned how Gandhi could become prime minister before the next Lok Sabha election, which he said is scheduled for 2029.
Focus of political campaigning
Congress's claim
The article says Congress is targeting the state government over alleged political and legal issues.
Sarma's response
Sarma said campaigns should address voter concerns such as roads, schools, colleges and welfare schemes.
- Sarma's office
- Chief Minister of Assam
- Gogoi's office
- Assam Congress president
- Next Lok Sabha election
- Scheduled for 2029, according to Sarma
- Gogoi's claim
- A case would be filed against Sarma if Rahul Gandhi became prime minister, and Sarma would subsequently be jailed.
- Sarma's campaign message
- Focus on voter concerns, including roads, schools, colleges and welfare schemes.
- Parties named
- Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress