Guwahati, March 12: Senior Pawan Khera on March 11 said that recent initiatives undertaken by the government led by Himanta Biswa Sarma, including financial assistance to women, would not help the Bharatiya Janata Party return to power in the upcoming Assembly elections in Assam.
Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, the Indian National Congress leader alleged that the BJP-led government in the state functions primarily for the interests of its ministers, including the chief minister. Responding to allegations raised by the BJP about alleged Pakistan links of Gaurav Gogoi, Khera claimed that Sarma had met a cleric in Dhaka before joining the BJP in 2015. He challenged the chief minister to deny the claim, saying Sarma had joined the party following the advice of that cleric. There was no immediate response from Sarma or the BJP regarding the allegation.
Khera noted that Sarma had left the Congress to join the BJP in 2015 and later played a significant role in helping the party secure its first victory in the Assam Assembly elections in 2016. However, he expressed confidence that under the leadership of Gogoi, the Congress and its allies would form the next government in the state and introduce what he described as a “new Assam model.”
Drawing an analogy with students who begin preparing only a few days before examinations, Khera said the BJP government had started taking sudden steps as elections approach. He cited the recent transfer of ₹9,000 each to about 40 lakh women beneficiaries under the Orunodoi Scheme. On the same day, Sarma also inaugurated the Maharaja Prithu Flyover, a 4.2-kilometre-long structure, and announced an increase of ₹30 in the daily wages of tea garden workers from next month.
Khera claimed that such last-minute initiatives would not help the BJP retain power, adding that women in the state have already decided not to tolerate what he described as a corrupt and oppressive administration. The Assam Legislative Assembly Election 2026 is expected to be held in April.
The Congress leader further alleged that the BJP government prioritises the interests of ministers and their families. He also criticised what he termed the BJP’s “Gujarat model,” claiming it benefits only a select few, while asserting that the “Assam model” proposed by the Congress under Gogoi would benefit every citizen of the state.
Khera additionally accused the state government of circulating an alleged AI-generated image of modern roads on social media and presenting it as evidence of improved infrastructure in Assam. He claimed that despite such assertions, the state continues to face poor road conditions.
He also alleged that the government had repeatedly resorted to misinformation and failed to deliver justice in cases linked to prominent artist Zubeen Garg. According to Khera, despite claims of preparing a strong charge sheet, the case was handled poorly, resulting in a court directing the unfreezing of the accused’s bank account.
Khera further criticised the government for spending public funds on publicity campaigns. He said that during his journey from the airport he noticed more than a thousand banners featuring Narendra Modi and Sarma, claiming that nearly ₹100 crore is spent annually on such campaigns.
Explaining why voters should support the Congress, Khera compared the situation to choosing between a flashy new shop and an old trusted one. He said that while people might initially be attracted to a new and dazzling shop, they eventually return to the older establishment that offers reliable service, adding that the Congress represents that dependable option.
