Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on February 10, said he has initiated defamation proceedings seeking Rs 500 crore in damages against senior Congress leaders Jitendra Singh, Bhupesh Baghel and Gaurav Gogoi.
He accused the leaders of making “false, malicious and defamatory” remarks against him during a press conference earlier in the day.
In a public statement, Sarma said he will pursue both civil and criminal defamation cases. He claimed the allegations were baseless and aimed at damaging his personal and political reputation. He added that the legal process would formally begin on February 9, 2026.
“Today, I have filed a defamation case seeking Rs 500 crore in damages against Congress leaders Jitendra Singh, Bhupesh Baghel and Gaurav Gogoi for making false, malicious and defamatory allegations against me at a press conference,” Sarma said. He added that the remarks crossed the limits of political discourse and called for a firm legal response.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said he will also initiate criminal defamation proceedings against Congress leader Debabrata Saikia and others linked to the press meet. According to him, the leaders made such remarks with the intent to mislead the public and tarnish his image ahead of key political developments.
Sarma said he remains open to political criticism. However, he added that he will not tolerate what he described as a coordinated campaign of lies and character assassination. He said the Congress leaders will now have to substantiate their claims before a court of law.
The Congress party is yet to issue an official response to the defamation move. However, party leaders have maintained that their statements amount to legitimate political scrutiny.
The legal action is expected to further escalate tensions between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress in Assam. The political temperature in the state is already rising as parties gear up for upcoming electoral battles.