Bhupesh Baghel calls Assam Assembly elections battle between "real vs fake Congress", slams CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
Raipur, March 26
Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel described the upcoming Assam Assembly elections as a contest between "real Congress" and the "fake Congress", while targeting Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Speaking to reporters here, Baghel said, "The fight there (in Assam) is between the real Congress and the fake Congress. The real Congress is being led by Gaurav Gogoi, and the fake Congress is being led by Himanta Biswa Sarma."
His remarks come as the Congress intensifies its campaign to challenge the BJP-led NDA in the northeastern state.
In a parallel move, the party has appointed a team of All India Congress Committee (AICC) observers for the Assam polls. In an official press release, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge approved the appointment of Ashok Singh, Vinod Verma, Anirudh Singh, Virendra Rathore, Yogesh Dixit, and Aditya Sharma with immediate effect. The appointments are aimed at strengthening organisational coordination ahead of the high-stakes election.
Meanwhile, Gaurav Gogoi strongly condemned the burning of copies of the Assamese newspaper Asomiya Pratidin in Sivasagar, holding the Chief Minister responsible for the incident. He alleged that the BJP government has created a hostile environment for the media, accusing party leaders and workers of repeatedly targeting journalists.
Describing the incident as a "planned and systemic attack," Gogoi said the Chief Minister failed to respond seriously and did not outline any immediate action. He further alleged that individuals linked to illegal syndicates have been given prominence in the BJP's ticket distribution, sidelining senior leaders.
The Congress leader also referred to a recent opposition unity rally in Sarbhog, stating that campaigning would intensify in the coming days despite the limited time provided by the Election Commission.
Assam will go to the polls in a single phase on April 9 for its 126-member Assembly, with counting scheduled for May 4.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This "real vs fake" narrative is getting old. As a voter from the Northeast, I'm more concerned about development, infrastructure, and peace. Both parties should focus on their manifestos instead of name-calling. The newspaper burning incident mentioned is very disturbing though.
Sarma sir has done good work in Assam. Congress is just salty because he left and became more successful with BJP. Calling him "fake Congress" is disrespectful to the people of Assam who voted for him. Let's talk about roads, schools, and jobs instead!
The allegation about targeting journalists is serious. A free press is crucial for democracy. Regardless of party, if leaders are creating a hostile environment for media, that's a red flag for any state. Hope the EC takes note.
Congress sending AICC observers shows they are serious. But they need a strong local face like Gogoi. Baghel's comment is a good political jab, but on the ground, BJP's organizational strength is tough to beat. It will be a very interesting election!
As a young voter, I'm tired of this drama. Real or fake, which party will ensure better opportunities for us? Which will control inflation? That's my only question. All the best to both sides, but please talk about YOUR plans. 🙏
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.