Assam CM Himanta Sarma claims Congress is sidelining Chhattisgarh CM in state elections

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has levelled serious allegations against the Congress party, claiming that the party is sidelining Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in the state's assembly elections. Sarma, who was in Chhattisgarh for poll campaigning, predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would win the elections, asserting that the Congress intends to remove Baghel from state leadership.

Addressing reporters during his visit to Chhattisgarh, Himanta Sarma stated, “As per the information I have, Congress has decided that Bhupesh Baghel's name should be removed from banners and posters. This has started in the last 10 days. I was in Congress for 22 years, so I got internal information about the party. The people of Chhattisgarh will remove him from the CM post, but after the elections, Congress will remove Baghel from the leadership post either immediately or gradually.” Sarma's comments come amid heightened political activity in Chhattisgarh, as the state gears up for assembly elections. 

Regarding a notice received from the Election Commission of India (ECI) in response to a complaint by the Congress over his 'Akbar' remark, Assam CM Himanta Sarma said, "Congress complained against me when I spoke about Akbar. It would have made sense to file a complaint if I had spoken something against TS Singh Deo or Baghel or any Congress leader. I think, for the Chhattisgarh Congress, Akbar is more important than Bhupesh Baghel. Why is Akbar so dear to you (Congress)?"

Sarma had made controversial remarks during the Assembly poll campaign in Chhattisgarh on October 18, leading to the Congress's complaint to the ECI. "If one Akbar comes to some place, he calls 100 Akbars. So, send him off as soon as possible, otherwise the land of Mata Kaushalya will get defiled,” he had said. Mata Kaushalya, the mother of Lord Ram, is believed to hail from what is modern-day Chhattisgarh. 

In response to this statement, the Congress lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that Sarma's remarks demonstrated a clear intent to provoke different sections of society against one another. The BJP leader defended his comments, asserting that they were not meant to be divisive.

"Congress has withheld the material information from the Hon’ble Election Commission that Mohammed Akbar is their candidate from Kawardha Constituency. Therefore legitimate criticism of a candidate does not amount to communal politics," he tweeted.