Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Biryani Barbs Dominate Assam’s Nagaon Bypoll Campaign
Campaigning is ending for a special election in Nagaon, Assam.
People will vote on October 6.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress MP Rakibul Hussain have been trading insults about food.
Sarma made fun of Hussain’s supposed love of meat and pulao.
Hussain joked that he was born to enjoy biryani and teased Sarma about eating rusk.
Sarma replied with another insult about people who eat biryani.
AIUDF leader Badruddin Ajmal joined in, saying Hussain was born eating dry fish.
The election features candidates from the BJP, Congress and AIUDF.
The final day of campaigning for the Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll was Sunday, with voting scheduled for October 6.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma mocked Congress MP Rakibul Hussain over his alleged appetite and accused him of misusing government-scheme money.
Hussain responded with jokes about biryani, pulao and Sarma’s alleged preference for rusk, known locally as “kata biscuit.”
Sarma called people supposedly born eating biryani “animals,” while AIUDF chief Maulana Badruddin Ajmal claimed Hussain was born eating dry fish and challenged his claim of wealth.
The candidates are BJP’s Devasish Sharma, Congress’s Sibamoni Bora and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal.
- Who
- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Congress MP Rakibul Hussain and AIUDF chief Maulana Badruddin Ajmal.
- What
- A food-themed exchange of political insults has become a prominent part of the Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll campaign.
- When
- The final day of campaigning was Sunday; polling is scheduled for October 6. The year is not specified.
- Where
- Nagaon, Assam, India.
- Why
- The remarks arose during campaigning for the Nagaon bypoll, where Sarma, Hussain and Ajmal exchanged attacks.
Sarma and Ajmal’s attacks
Hussain’s retorts
Food-themed insults
Sarma and Ajmal’s attacks
Sarma compared Hussain to the mythological figure Bakasura, alleged he ate meat and pulao several times a day, and said those born eating biryani were animals. Ajmal said Hussain was born eating dry fish, not biryani.
Hussain’s retorts
Hussain said he was born to enjoy biryani, joked that he was apparently born eating chicken biryani, and mocked Sarma’s alleged preference for “kata biscuit” or rusk.
Claims about wealth and public money
Sarma and Ajmal’s attacks
Sarma accused Hussain of “digesting” money meant for government schemes. Ajmal challenged Hussain’s claim of being born wealthy, saying he had been poor.
Hussain’s retorts
Hussain said Allah made him wealthy when he was born. The article reports this as his sarcastic response, not as independently verified information.
- Election
- Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll
- Polling date
- October 6
- Last day of campaigning
- Sunday
- BJP candidate
- Devasish Sharma, a former Nagaon Deputy Commissioner
- Congress candidate
- Sibamoni Bora, a former Batadrava MLA
- AIUDF candidate
- Maulana Badruddin Ajmal
- Seat vacancy
- Former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the party and joined the BJP.