Assam CM Sarma credits BJP's poll sweep to Pawan Khera's family remarks backfiring
Synopsis
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has attributed BJP's sweeping Assembly election victory to a public backlash against Congress leader Pawan Khera's alleged remarks targeting his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sharma — a case that recently reached the Supreme Court, which granted Khera anticipatory bail.
Key Takeaways
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said Pawan Khera 's remarks against his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sharma backfired and helped consolidate support for the BJP in the Assam Assembly elections .
Sarma claimed the verdict reflected a public rejection of what he termed "negative politics" by the Congress.
The Supreme Court recently granted anticipatory bail to Khera in a case filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma at the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station .
Khera had allegedly made public statements claiming Riniki Bhuyan Sharma held multiple foreign passports and had financial interests abroad .
The FIR invokes multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita , including provisions on false statements in connection with elections, defamation, and forgery.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said that remarks made by Congress leader Pawan Khera targeting his family generated a strong public backlash, which he claimed was directly reflected in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s sweeping victory in the Assam Assembly elections. Sarma made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Guwahati following the party's decisive poll performance.
What Sarma Said
The Chief Minister specifically referred to Khera's alleged public comments targeting his wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, saying the remarks had emotionally resonated with voters across the state. He argued that personal attacks during an election campaign had significantly influenced public perception and, ultimately, the electoral outcome.
Point of View
Or is the CM retrofitting a convenient explanation onto a victory that had structural roots in incumbency and development optics? The Congress's failure in Assam is deeper than one leader's remarks — it reflects an organisational vacuum the party has not addressed in years. Pinning the loss on Khera's comments risks obscuring that larger reckoning.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Pawan Khera allegedly say about Assam CM Sarma's family?
Congress leader Pawan Khera allegedly made public statements claiming that Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, possessed multiple foreign passports and had financial interests abroad. These allegations led to an FIR being filed against him at the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station.
What is the legal case against Pawan Khera in Assam?
Riniki Bhuyan Sharma filed a complaint against Pawan Khera at the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station over his public allegations. The FIR invokes several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including provisions related to false statements in connection with elections, defamation, forgery, and using forged documents as genuine. The Supreme Court has since granted Khera anticipatory bail in the matter.
How did CM Sarma link Khera's remarks to the BJP's election victory?
Sarma claimed that Khera's personal remarks against his wife emotionally resonated with Assam voters, consolidating support for the BJP across Assembly constituencies. He said the electorate rejected what he described as 'negative politics' and instead backed development and governance.
What was the Supreme Court's ruling in the Pawan Khera case?
The Supreme Court recently granted anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in the case filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma. The case stems from Khera's alleged public allegations about her foreign passports and financial interests abroad.
Why does CM Sarma consider personal attacks on family members unacceptable?
Sarma stated that while political contestation is expected in a democracy, dragging family members into campaign discourse crosses a line that the people of Assam found unacceptable. He said such comments hurt public sentiment and contributed to voters rallying behind the BJP.
