Assam CM Dubs Congress’ 42-Candidate List ‘Dynastic’

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Congress after the party unveiled its first list of 42 candidates for the 2026 Assam Assembly elections.

The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) released the list late Tuesday night, naming several senior leaders in key constituencies. Among them are APCC president Gaurav Gogoi from Jorhat and Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia from Nazira.

Responding to the announcement, Sarma alleged that the Congress continues to promote what he termed a culture of “dynastic succession” in politics. He claimed that a significant number of candidates in the list hail from established political families, suggesting that leadership within the party is being passed down through generations rather than opened up to fresh faces.

“If one studies the list carefully, a pattern becomes evident,” the chief minister said. “There are sons of former ministers, sons of past chief ministers, relatives of senior leaders, and even family members of sitting MPs. It reflects a continuation of political lineage.”

Sarma argued that the Congress’ approach stands in contrast to that of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which he said prioritises leaders who have risen through grassroots activism rather than inherited political influence. Highlighting the BJP’s recent selections for the Rajya Sabha and other elections, he said many of the party’s nominees come from modest backgrounds and do not belong to political dynasties.

Citing examples from within his own cabinet, Sarma referred to leaders who, he said, built their careers through organisational work and public engagement rather than family connections. According to him, this reflects a broader ideological difference between the two parties.

“The BJP’s philosophy is to create opportunities for ordinary individuals from middle-class and economically humble families,” Sarma said. “Our candidate lists—whether for the Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, by-elections or Assembly polls—largely comprise people who have grown within the party structure through dedication and hard work.”

The chief minister maintained that the BJP has consistently focused on nurturing leaders at the grassroots level, claiming that only a handful of exceptions, if any, come from established political families.

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