Assam CM to File Defamation Cases Against Congress Leaders

Guwahati:Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday announced that he would initiate both civil and criminal defamation proceedings against senior Congress leaders, intensifying an already charged political atmosphere ahead of the upcoming elections.

In a statement issued on social media, Sarma said legal action would be initiated on February 9, 2026, against Congress leaders Jitendra Singh Alwar, Bhupesh Baghel, Gaurav Gogoi and Debabrata Saikia. He accused them of making what he described as “false, malicious and defamatory” allegations against him during a press conference held earlier in the day.

“I am initiating civil and criminal defamation proceedings on 9 February 2026 against @JitendraSAlwar, @bhupeshbaghel, @GauravGogoiAsm and @DsaikiaOfficial for making false, malicious and defamatory statements against me,” the Chief Minister wrote, adding that he would not be intimidated by what he termed a campaign of coordinated political slander.

I am initiating civil and criminal defamation proceedings on 9 February 2026 against @JitendraSAlwar, @bhupeshbaghel, @GauravGogoiAsm and @DsaikiaOfficial for making false, malicious and defamatory statements against me in today’s press conference.

The era of hit-and-run…

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) February 4, 2026

The chief minister also challenged the Congress leadership to substantiate their claims before a court, asserting that he would respond firmly through legal means rather than political rhetoric.

Congress Levels Allegations at Press Conference

The Chief Minister’s announcement followed a press briefing by the Congress in which party leaders accused him of amassing illegal land holdings and alleged corruption across government departments. They also questioned the timing of Sarma’s recent remarks linking Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi to Pakistan.

At the press conference, the Congress released a poster and video titled “Who is Himanta Biswa Sarma?” Addressing reporters, Gaurav Gogoi alleged that the Chief Minister and his family had acquired vast tracts of land over the years.

“Not many people are aware of the true extent of Himanta Biswa Sarma’s land holdings. Even we do not yet know the full scale,” Gogoi said, claiming that as much as 12,000 bighas of land had been acquired in the names of Sarma’s family members. He announced the launch of a public portal through which citizens could submit information related to the alleged land acquisitions.

Gogoi further said that if the claims were proven, the Congress would bring the issue into the public domain and ensure that the land was redistributed among the poor. Responding to Sarma’s accusations linking him to Pakistan, he suggested the remarks were politically motivated and timed to influence voters ahead of elections.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly, Debabrata Saikia, said the Congress had issued a “chargesheet” against the Chief Minister, alleging irregularities in the Public Works Department and inflated tenders aimed at generating funds before polls.

Congress leader and Assam in-charge Jitendra Singh Alwar accused Sarma of betraying public trust and undermining the interests of various communities in the state. Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who was also present at the press conference, echoed the allegations.

Senior Assam Congress leaders, including Rakibul Hussain and Pradyut Bordoloi, also attended the briefing.

ALSO READ: As Elections Near, Congress Forces Assam to Ask: Who Is Himanta Biswa Sarma?