A fierce political confrontation has erupted in Assam between Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi following a violent clash during an eviction drive in the state’s Goalpara district. The clash, which occurred in a reserve forest area, has led to serious allegations from the ruling BJP against the Congress, intensifying the already charged political climate in the lead-up to the 2026 Assembly elections.
Assam CM Sarma and Rahul Gandhi Trade Barbs Over Goalpara Eviction Drive
Speaking at a press conference at the BJP’s state headquarters in Guwahati on Thursday, Chief Minister Sarma accused Rahul Gandhi of inciting unrest and encouraging illegal occupation of government forest land. According to Sarma, Gandhi’s statements during a Congress workers’ meeting in Chaygaon on Wednesday emboldened alleged encroachers, triggering resistance during Thursday morning’s eviction operations.
“He has misled the public by promising rehabilitation on protected forest land,” Sarma alleged. “Such promises are not only legally untenable but also socially dangerous. You cannot settle anyone on forest land, no matter how strong your political agenda is.”
The situation turned volatile early Thursday when local residents, reportedly affected by the eviction, began protesting against the administration. According to police reports, the protest escalated into violence when some individuals pelted stones and allegedly attacked security personnel with sharp weapons. In response, police opened fire, resulting in injuries to at least 21 personnel and the death of one protester. Two others were admitted to hospital with critical injuries.
Assam Police have registered a case related to the violence, and the Chief Minister confirmed that Rahul Gandhi’s speech is being reviewed for any elements that could be interpreted as incitement.
“If there is any evidence that Rahul Gandhi or Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge incited violence through their speeches, legal action will follow,” Sarma warned. “No one is above the law, irrespective of their political status.”
Rahul Gandhi had arrived in Assam on Wednesday as part of a renewed Congress campaign to mobilize grassroots workers and revive the party’s prospects in the state. Addressing a large gathering in Chaygaon, Gandhi launched a blistering attack on the state government and Chief Minister Sarma personally, accusing him of autocratic behavior and favoring corporate interests over the welfare of ordinary citizens.
“He behaves more like a king than an elected leader,” Gandhi said, drawing thunderous applause. “Behind all his tall claims, there is fear in his voice. He knows that the lions and lionesses of Congress — the real warriors of Assam — will hold him accountable. Even Modi ji won’t be able to save him.”
Rahul Gandhi also alleged that the BJP, with the tacit support of a “compromised” Election Commission, is attempting to disenfranchise poor and farmer voters by selectively removing names from the electoral rolls.
His visit to Assam is being seen as a key step in the Congress’s effort to regain lost ground in the Northeast. The party recently appointed Gaurav Gogoi, the Jorhat MP and Deputy Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, as its new Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president, replacing Bhupen Kumar Borah. The change in leadership signals a generational shift and strategic recalibration ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls.
However, Gogoi too has found himself at the center of political controversy. Since early this year, Chief Minister Sarma has accused him of being connected to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), citing his wife Elizabeth’s professional collaborations with Pakistani climate policy expert Ali Tauqeer Sheikh. An Assam Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) had even traveled to Delhi to probe these alleged links.
Gogoi has flatly denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated and defamatory. He clarified that the project in question was part of a legitimate regional climate initiative that involved experts from several South Asian countries.
“This is nothing but a desperate attempt to discredit me and divert public attention from the real issues,” Gogoi said in an earlier statement. “The BJP knows it is losing the trust of the people, so they’re resorting to conspiracy theories.”
The rhetoric from both sides has continued to escalate. Chief Minister Sarma, during his address to the media, further alleged that nearly 1,000 Facebook accounts based in Pakistan and Bangladesh are under surveillance for allegedly attempting to interfere in Assam’s political discourse. While no concrete link has been established publicly, Sarma indicated that online disinformation and foreign influence are emerging concerns ahead of the elections.
Adding to his attack on the Gandhi family, Sarma also referenced recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) actions involving Rahul Gandhi’s brother-in-law, Robert Vadra. “Multiple properties linked to Vadra have been seized by the ED. The Congress must come clean on its corruption track record before pointing fingers at us,” he said.
The developments in Goalpara have now become a flashpoint, with both the BJP and Congress digging in their heels. The eviction drive in the reserve forest, which the government says was necessary to reclaim encroached public land, has become the latest in a series of politically charged incidents in Assam. The state has witnessed several such drives in recent years, many of which have drawn criticism from rights groups and opposition parties over concerns related to human rights and rehabilitation.
Thursday’s events are expected to further polarize public opinion in Assam, where land ownership, migration, and identity politics have long been emotive and contentious issues. With just months to go before campaign season officially begins for the 2026 polls, the state appears headed for a high-stakes political showdown.
As of now, the law and order situation in Goalpara remains tense but under control, according to local officials. Additional forces have been deployed in sensitive areas, and a curfew has been imposed in the immediate vicinity of the eviction site to prevent further flare-ups.
Meanwhile, both parties are standing firm on their positions. While the BJP insists on protecting government land and maintaining public order, the Congress accuses the ruling party of authoritarianism and targeting vulnerable communities under the guise of development.
Whether the Goalpara incident will become a turning point in Assam’s political narrative remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the road to 2026 is already riddled with confrontation, controversy, and a fierce contest for the hearts and minds of the people.
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