Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, launched a sharp political offensive against Congress MP Rakibul Hussain of Dhubri over his pledge to restore land to families displaced by eviction drives — but only if Congress returned to power. Sarma argued that people who had already lost their homes could not be asked to wait years for relief.

The Congress Promise That Triggered the Attack

Responding to Hussain's assurance to eviction-affected families, Sarma took a pointed swipe at the Congress party's electoral prospects in Assam. He claimed the party could be out of power for the next five decades, making the promise effectively meaningless.

'Congress will come back to power in Assam after 50 years, and by then this Congress may not even exist. Who will wait for 50 years?' Sarma said, questioning the credibility of the Dhubri MP's pledge.

What Sarma Said MPs and MLAs Should Do Instead

The Chief Minister argued that elected representatives have immediate tools at their disposal and should use them rather than issue future-conditional assurances. He said an MP or MLA could directly approach the district administration to arrange alternative land for displaced families.

'If I were an MLA or an MP, I would have said that I would speak to the Deputy Commissioner and arrange alternative land for the evicted people,' Sarma said.

Political Accusations and Historical Challenge

Escalating the exchange, Sarma accused the Congress of making promises to the minority community without offering any immediate solution. He alleged that Hussain's statement amounted to asking affected residents to hold out until an election result went Congress's way before expecting any help.

Sarma also challenged the party's credibility on the issue, questioning why Congress had not addressed landlessness during its long years in power in Assam. He insisted the focus must be on finding solutions for landless families now, not on conditional future commitments.

Backdrop: Assam's Eviction Controversy

The exchange comes amid an ongoing political debate over eviction drives conducted by the BJP-led state government across Assam. The government has defended the operations as necessary to reclaim encroached government and forest land. Critics, including the Congress, have condemned the drives and raised concerns about the inadequate rehabilitation of affected families — many of whom belong to the minority community. This is not the first time the two sides have clashed over the issue; eviction policy has been a recurring flashpoint in Assam politics since the drives intensified under Sarma's tenure.

What Happens Next

With assembly elections in Assam expected in 2026, the eviction issue is likely to remain a central political battleground. Both the BJP and Congress are expected to sharpen their positions on land rights and rehabilitation as the electoral cycle approaches.