Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera a “bhagora,” or absconder, during a press briefing in Guwahati on Thursday [1, 2].

The exchange follows the announcement of the Assam assembly election results and escalates a political confrontation over a passport controversy involving Sarma’s wife [1, 3].

Sarma questioned the relevance and presence of the opposition party during the briefing. "Where is this Congress party? Which Congress party? I have not even heard about it," Sarma said [1]. He targeted Khera, adding, "Who is Pawan Khera? He is a bhagora" [1].

The dispute centers on allegations made by Khera regarding the passport of the chief minister's spouse [3, 4]. In response to the escalating tension, reports indicate that a four-member police team visited Khera’s residence in Delhi [5].

There are conflicting reports regarding Khera's current location. Some reports state that police raided his Delhi home [2], while Sarma said that Khera has left for Hyderabad [3].

Sarma's remarks come at a time of heightened political friction in the region. The use of the term “bhagora” suggests a narrative of evasion by the Congress leadership following the election cycle [1, 2].

Congress has previously signaled its support for Khera amid the ongoing passport dispute [4]. The party continues to challenge the actions taken by the Assam government in the wake of the electoral results [2].

“"Where is this Congress party? Which Congress party? I have not even heard about it."”

This confrontation reflects the deepening polarization in Assam's political landscape. By labeling a senior Congress spokesperson as an absconder and dismissing the party's existence, Sarma is leveraging his recent electoral momentum to delegitimize the opposition's challenges to his administration, specifically regarding personal and familial legal scrutiny.