Guwahati:

The official X account of Assam Congress was allegedly hacked on Wednesday with the profile name changed to ‘Tesla Event’ and the profile picture to American electric carmaker Tesla’s logo.

The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee lodged a police complaint and demanded the arrest of the culprit.

“We would like to inform you that our official Twitter (sic) handle, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, was hacked but has now been restored and is currently under review to ensure full security,” APCC said in a post on X in the afternoon.

“This attempted silencing by the government will not deter us. We remain committed to our principles and will continue our fight to speak the truth. Thank you for your unwavering support. Stay strong, we will not be silenced,” APCC said.

In the complaint filed at Bhangagarh police station in Guwahati, APCC Social Media & IT Chairman Ratul Kalita said that the account was hacked around 4 am on Wednesday.

“This Twitter (sic) handle has many data of our party through which we have reached out to lakhs of people. I demand that the culprit be arrested for this… malicious intention,” he added. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Guwahati:

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in the country, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, saying that Hindus won’t remain in the Assam Congress by 2026.

He said, “By 2026, there will be no more Hindus in the Assam Congress and almost all the Muslims will leave the Congress by 2032. We will open a branch at Rajiv Bhawan as Mahanagar BJP. Many Congress leaders will join the BJP tomorrow.”

The statement by the Assam Chief Minister was made as he visited the state BJP headquarters in Guwahati on Saturday and attended a crucial meeting to take stock of the preparedness for Lok Sabha polls.

“A meeting of the Prabharis of 126 assembly constituencies was held at the state BJP headquarters in Guwahati. Three members of Congress joined the BJP on Saturday. Others will join the BJP on Sunday. I will go to Majuli and my election campaign will start in Majuli on April 1 with a cycle rally,” Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Talking about the welfare of Muslim society in the state, the Assam Chief Minister said, “I am trying to work to reform their society. Many Muslim youths are supporting me, as you can see on Facebook and they all welcome this. No one opposes it.”

On the other hand, talking about the Jorhat parliamentary constituency, the Assam Chief Minister said that the BJP will win the Jorhat seat. “A section is trying to create an atmosphere against me, but the ground reality is different,” he added.

“Why two right and left hands of the Congress candidate (Gaurav Gogoi) have left the party and joined the BJP because they know that there is no possibility of winning a chance,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

He stated that the political parties are under the people and the political parties must seek their blessings.

“The BJP will take the lead in 105 out of 126 assembly constituencies in the state. I am very confident that people will vote for us for the development work done by the government,” the CM added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Tezpur:

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has claimed that state Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah will join the saffron party by early next year.

However, Mr Borah on Tuesday dismissed the CM’s claim and stated that Mr Sarma was playing ‘mind games’ to divert attention from real issues.

Mr Sarma termed the grand old party as a ‘fixed deposit’ of the BJP, from which it draws members whenever needed.

“I can say that by January-February 2025, Bhupen Borah will join the BJP. I have kept two constituencies ready for him, though won’t name those now,” Mr Sarma said, talking to reporters at the residence of the party’s Sonitpur constituency candidate Ranjit Dutta on Monday evening.

Terming the opposition Congress a ‘fixed deposit’ of the BJP, Mr Sarma claimed that ‘whenever needed, we bring them in’.

“Except for a few ‘blue-blooded’ few ones, the rest are all ours,” the BJP leader added.

Mr Sarma maintained that voting for Congress means voting for Rahul Gandhi, and for BJP means, voting for Modi.

“Those who love Modi and want Bharat to be a ‘vishwa guru’ will vote for BJP. Rahul Gandhi’s own future is dark, the future of his followers is even darker,” the CM claimed.

He also claimed that the Congress candidate in Sonitpur will also join the saffron party if he makes a phone call to him.

“The one who is contesting here will join us instantly if I call, but I will call after election. We don’t want them to withdraw nomination as we have to show Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji the support of the people.

“Hanuman showed his love by tearing apart his chest. In Kalyug, we have to show the love through votes,” Mr Sarma said.

Addressing a press conference at Jorhat on Tuesday, Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah dismissed the CM’s claim and said that Mr Sarma was playing ‘mind games’ to divert attention from real issue.

“I want to ask, why should I join the BJP? If I join, will the six communities demanding Scheduled Tribe status for years get it? Will new jobs be created? Will landless indigenous families get land rights?” Mr Borah asked.

“The CM is playing mind games. Whenever we talk about burning issues, he tries to divert attention as he has no solutions. But the Congress will not fall into the trap of such mind games”, the state Congress chief added.

Congress has fielded Premlal Ganju, a state party general secretary, against sitting MLA Dutta, who is also a former state minister and ex-BJP state president. The constituency goes to the polls in the first phase on April 19.

The BJP is contesting in 11 seats out of total 14 in the state, leaving two for AGP and one for United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL).

The saffron party has nine MPs from the state in the outgoing Lok Sabha, with its alliance partners having no representation. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)