Congress alleges Sarma’s wife holds three passports, Dubai properties; Assam CM rejects claims
Congress alleges Sarma’s wife holds three passports, Dubai properties; Assam CM rejects claims
Congress-level claims allege Riniki Bhuyan Sarma holds three passports and owns Dubai properties as poll-season tensions rise in Assam; CM Sarma vows defamation suits.
At a press conference in New Delhi on Sunday, Congress' Pawan Khera presented documents alleging that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, holds passports from three countries and has Dubai properties, while asserting information about her assets was concealed in the CM’s poll affidavit. He claimed the documents point to a broader network of overseas ties and demanded the Election Commission cancel Sarma’s nomination for alleged concealment. The party framed the allegations as part of a sharper campaign in the run-up to the April 9 election in Assam.
In response, CM Sarma rejected the charges as malicious, fabricated, and politically motivated, accusing Congress of spreading a baseless narrative to mislead voters. He announced that he and his wife would file criminal and civil defamation cases within 48 hours against Khera for making “reckless and defamatory statements,” saying the claims reflected a concerted attempt to disrupt the electoral process. He described the circulating documents as showing inconsistencies and suggested a crude attempt at digital manipulation aimed at tarnishing his and his family’s reputation.
Khera, speaking from New Delhi, asserted that the allegations extend beyond India’s borders and that the documents include references to a UAE passport for Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, with specific issue and expiry dates cited to bolster the case. He reiterated that the focus of the Congress is on accountability and transparency, arguing that such disclosures are part of a pattern of alleged corruption and influence-peddling surrounding the incumbent government.
As Assam braces for a historic mandate, the clash between the Congress and the ruling coalition has intensified, with both sides trading charges amid a charged electoral atmosphere. The dispute over personal disclosures comes at a time when voters are weighing development promises, governance records, and the credibility of candidates as poll day approaches. The campaign’s thermal tone underscores how personal allegations are shaping the political narrative in Assam ahead of April 9.
The episode adds to a broader national conversation about candidate disclosures, scrutiny of assets, and the role of opposition parties in enforcing transparency during elections. Whether the complaints will influence voting or prompt formal scrutiny remains to be seen as officials monitor the unfolding exchanges ahead of polling day.
