Assam CM Himanta Sarma slams Congress 'anarchy' at Sivasagar rally
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday, 6 November 2026, pointed to a large public gathering in Sivasagar district as evidence of mounting popular opposition to what he called the Congress party's “anarchy,” as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sharpened its political offensive against the opposition across the state.
Sarma's Sivasagar Claim
Sharing an image of the crowd on social media platform X, Sarma pushed back against suggestions that the visual had been digitally manipulated. “This is not any AI-generated visual which the ecosystem peddles to show turnout in Congress rallies. This is Assam’s Sivasagar, a small town on the Eastern Horizon, which strongly came out against Congress’ anarchy,” he said.
The Chief Minister used the rally footage to reinforce the BJP’s narrative of organisational strength in Upper Assam, a region that has historically been a fiercely contested political battleground among major parties.
BJP’s Escalating Campaign Against Congress
Sarma’s remarks are the latest in a sustained campaign by the ruling BJP to frame the Congress as a destabilising force in Assam. In recent weeks, the Chief Minister has also trained his sights on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing the party of pursuing a political agenda that, according to the BJP, threatens peace and stability in the state.
The BJP has sought to weaponise issues of law and order, alleged political violence, and the Congress’ campaign strategy as central planks of its outreach, particularly with the next round of electoral contests drawing closer.
Congress Hits Back
The Congress has consistently rejected the BJP’s characterisation, accusing the ruling party of deploying government machinery and orchestrated political campaigns to suppress opposition voices. The party has not accepted that the Sivasagar gathering reflected any organic groundswell against it.
The escalating war of words has turned public rallies and social media exchanges into key arenas of contestation between the two parties in Assam.
Sivasagar’s Political Significance
Sivasagar, situated in Upper Assam, carries considerable political weight. The region has seen intense inter-party rivalry over successive election cycles and is viewed by both the BJP and the Congress as a bellwether for broader sentiment in eastern Assam.
By spotlighting the crowd turnout there, Sarma signalled that the BJP’s campaign against the Congress is set to intensify further in the days ahead as parties ramp up outreach across the state.