As Assam heads toward the crucial Assam Assembly elections 2026, the passport controversy intensified on Tuesday, with incumbent MLA and Akhil Gogoi strongly criticising Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over the police action at Congress leader Pawan Khera’s residence in New Delhi. Gogoi described the state government’s actions as authoritarian, likening them to a “Hitler-style” regime.
Speaking to reporters, “All people of Assam will vote for the opposition. The language used by the Chief Minister is like that of the police; he always hides behind the police and courts.” He accused the Chief Minister of relying on law enforcement instead of directly addressing the allegations, asserting that the questions raised by Pawan Khera deserved clear answers.
“People across Assam are deeply dissatisfied with this approach. The Chief Minister consistently hides behind the police and courts instead of answering legitimate questions. This feels like an authoritarian regime,” Gogoi stated.
Gogoi, who is contesting from the Sivasagar Assembly constituency, also made remarks suggesting that the Chief Minister’s wife had accumulated significant assets, drawing inferences from Sarma’s conduct. He expressed confidence that the Gogoi family would win in the upcoming elections, predicting victory for all three Gogois.
His comments come amid an increasingly charged political atmosphere, with issues of governance, transparency, and alleged misuse of state machinery dominating the discourse. Gogoi’s remarks reflect an attempt to mobilise voters against the incumbent government by portraying it as unaccountable and repressive.
“Pawan Khera raised valid questions, and instead of responding, the CM relies on the police. This is unacceptable. We are confident the people of Assam will vote for change, and the Raijor Dal will emerge victorious,” Gogoi asserted.
Meanwhile, Himanta Biswa Sarma alleged that Pawan Khera had “ran away” to Hyderabad from New Delhi after Assam Police visited his residence in the national capital.
Assam CM said he learned about Khera’s departure through media reports. “He ran away from Guwahati yesterday. I have come to know through the media that the police have gone to his residence in Delhi, but he has run away to Hyderabad. The law will take its own course,” CM Sarma added.
The controversy began after Congress leaders alleged that the Chief Minister’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, holds three passports. Following these claims, Assam Police conducted searches at Pawan Khera’s Delhi residence based on an FIR filed by her on Monday.
