Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has ignited a fresh political controversy by declaring migrant Muslim communities, whom he referred to as 'Miyas', as the 'oxygen' for the opposition Congress party. He made these remarks on Sunday while addressing the media in Rangapara, located in northern Assam.
Allegations of Cash-for-Tickets in Congress
The Chief Minister predicted that the Congress will focus its efforts on 22 out of the 126 assembly seats in the state, where the migrant Muslim population holds significant electoral sway. Sarma did not stop at his 'oxygen' analogy; he launched a serious accusation against the grand old party. He claimed that the Congress has already signaled to its prospective candidates that they must pay a hefty sum to secure a party ticket for the upcoming 2026 elections.
According to Sarma, the Congress is demanding an upfront payment of Rs 1 crore, followed by an additional Rs 3 crore later. He identified specific constituencies in the lower Assam region, such as Srijangram, Mandia-Jania, Dalgaon, and Chamaria, as the key battlegrounds where this practice would lead to internal chaos within the Congress ranks.
BJP's Electoral Strategy and Congress's Rebuttal
The CM's comments came shortly after the state BJP unit announced its framing of the 2026 election as a contest between indigenous communities and migrant Muslims, as the party seeks a third consecutive term in power. Sarma asserted that the Congress has surpassed its relevance in Assam and that his government has successfully gained the trust of the people, including members of the Miya community who have benefited from state government schemes.
However, he was quick to add that encroachments on government lands by migrant Muslims remain unacceptable. Reacting strongly to the allegations, Bedabrata Bora, the chairperson of the media department for the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), issued a firm denial. Bora stated that the Congress does not charge money for tickets and labeled the Chief Minister's allegations as completely baseless and confusing.
The Political Battle Lines are Drawn
This exchange sets the stage for a highly polarized electoral battle in Assam. While the Congress has not yet finalized its candidates or completed seat-sharing agreements with its alliance partners, the BJP, under Sarma's leadership, is clearly defining the narrative for the 2026 polls. The focus on the role of migrant Muslim voters and the serious allegations of corruption indicate that identity politics and claims of ethical high ground will be central themes in the run-up to the election.
