Assam Election Set to Be ‘Harvard vs Cotton’, Himanta Biswa Sarma Alleges Irregularities in Congress Ticket Process

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), alleging irregularities and financial dealings in the party’s ticket distribution process ahead of the upcoming state elections.

Sarma alleged that Congress ticket aspirants were being misled with false assurances and that an external private company had conducted large financial transactions in the name of granting party tickets.

“Congress ticket aspirants are being misled with false hopes. A private external company has carried out huge financial transactions in the name of tickets,” Sarma said.

He further alleged that the company has emerged as an influential force within the Assam Congress under the patronage of a few senior party leaders. Targeting a Congress-linked organisation, Inclusive Minds, Sarma claimed that the party’s candidate list was prepared by the organisation under Saksham Marwa and Sunil Kanugule, with crores of rupees allegedly transacted in the name of allocating tickets in minority constituencies.

The Chief Minister also criticised the Congress for holding meetings across Assam, describing them as ineffective and lacking political relevance.

“These meetings across Assam have no value at all,” he said.

Referring to the educational background of individuals associated with Inclusive Minds, Sarma made a political remark, saying the Assam election would be a contest between elite institutions and grassroots politics.

“People in Inclusive Minds have degrees from Harvard University, but we will teach them that Cotton is above Harvard in Assam,” he added.

Sarma predicted serious internal conflicts within the Congress once the final list of candidates is announced, while acknowledging that disagreements could also arise within the BJP. He also recalled that when he was in the Congress, such meetings were conducted confidentially and were not made public.

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