Guwahati: During the first day of her two-day visit to Assam on Thursday, Congress Screening Committee Chairperson and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra presented a 20-point “charge sheet” criticizing the BJP-led state government, accusing it of corruption and misusing administrative power to intimidate minority communities ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
The document listed several unfulfilled commitments by the government, including the failure to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to six indigenous communities and to raise the daily wage of tea garden workers to Rs 351.
Vadra, who heads the Congress candidate screening committee for the Assam polls, also alleged widespread graft in the state administration. The party claimed that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, along with some ministers and their relatives, had amassed wealth unlawfully.
Addressing questions on the recent defection of former Assam Pradesh Congress Committee chief Bhupen Bora to the BJP, Vadra minimized its significance. She stated, “Defections are common before every election. We, as the Congress, remain united and determined. Our team is ready to fight and win.”
The programme also saw the presence of senior Congress leaders from outside the state, including Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, and Bandhu Tirkey, serving as observers for the Assam elections.
Shivakumar expressed confidence in the party’s chances, asserting that public sentiment favors change. He also dismissed remarks made by Chief Minister Sarma, saying the BJP is attempting to poach leaders with limited political space while failing to deliver on its promises.