Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has strongly condemned Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for launching what he called an “atrocious smear campaign” against Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and his wife, Elizabeth Gogoi. Ramesh, in an X post, accused Sarma and the BJP of attempting to discredit Gogoi ahead of the 2024 Assam elections, calling the allegations “character assassination” and confirming that legal action would be taken immediately.

Ramesh suggested that the smear campaign was in retaliation to Gogoi’s vocal criticism of Sarma’s administration, particularly regarding corruption allegations. He highlighted Gogoi’s victory in the Jorhat Lok Sabha seat in 2024 despite efforts by Sarma and other BJP leaders to defeat him.

The Congress leader expressed confidence in his party’s ability to win the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, predicting that the people of Assam would reject Sarma’s leadership and vote him out in 2026.

In response, Himanta Sarma welcomed the legal action, reminding Congress of their “humiliating defeat” in past elections. Sarma also challenged Gogoi to take the matter to court, stating that it would allow the issue to be discussed on a judicial platform.

The controversy erupted after Sarma accused Elizabeth Gogoi of having links to the Pakistani government and financier George Soros’ Open Society. He also raised questions about her 2015 meeting with the Pakistani High Commissioner to India, claiming it could be tied to radicalization efforts.