Me Contesting From Sivasagar Would Be Cheating People: Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday firmly dismissed suggestions that he should contest the Assembly election from Sivasagar, responding sharply to a challenge thrown by Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi.

Addressing reporters, Sarma said contesting from a constituency where he has not worked would amount to “cheating the people,” stressing that he has had no direct involvement in Sivasagar over the past five years.

“To contest elections in Sivasagar, I should have worked there. I have not done any work there in the last five years. If I contest and win, I will still be staying in Guwahati. People will not find their MLA there. That would be cheating the people, and cheating the people is a sin,” the Chief Minister said.

Sarma further asserted that the BJP does not believe in imposing leaders on constituencies where strong local leadership already exists. He said Sivasagar has capable BJP workers who can defeat Akhil Gogoi without his intervention.

“In Sivasagar, there are five to six BJP candidates who can defeat Akhil Gogoi. If I go there, what message will it send? That I don’t trust our own workers? Why should I go when they are capable of winning?” he asked.

Highlighting his lack of familiarity with the constituency, Sarma said he neither lives in Sivasagar nor has family ties there, making it impractical for him to represent the people effectively.

“My house is not there, my family does not stay there. I won’t even be able to visit during Bihu or Puja. If the MLA is never available, what benefit will the people get?” he said.

Rejecting the idea of contesting elections merely as a political challenge, the Chief Minister added that elections are not a sport. “This is not wrestling where one can stand anywhere and fight. One must belong to the place and be accountable to the people,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, Sarma said the BJP would never endorse a decision that could alienate voters or undermine public trust, reiterating confidence in the party’s local leadership in Sivasagar ahead of the next Assembly elections.

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