Congress paid for dragging Riniki, Zubeen into politics: Himanta Biswa Sarma

GUWAHATI: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday attributed Congress’s rout to its attempt to politicise singer Zubeen Garg’s death, arguing state chief Gaurav Gogoi tasted “crushing” defeat for dragging his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma into a passport controversy.

“No party should bring Bhupen Hazarika or Zubeen Garg into poll manifestos... Congress sought votes in Zubeen’s name, as they did not have support. It was a cheap political tactic,” he said.



On Gaurav’s debut debacle on home turf, Jorhat, he blamed a news conference where Khera accused Riniki of holding multiple passports and keeping assets in foreign countries. “Usually, people of Assam don’t like it if someone from outside talks about their daughters. People of Bengal would not have liked me if I had indulged in personal attacks on Mamata.”