Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hit back at Congress MP Rakibul Hussain's biryani comment. Sarma made sharp remarks about biryani in Juria's rally before the Nagaon by-election, which further intensified the rhetoric between the two leaders.
Guwahati: The war of words between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress MP Rakibul Hussain has intensified ahead of the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election. Chief Minister Sarma, while responding to Hussain's comment on biryani at an election rally, said, “Those who are born to eat biryani are animals.” His statement came during the campaign for Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election to be held on October 6. Sarma made this comment while addressing a public meeting held at Juria in Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency on October 1. He said that those who are born to drink mother's milk are humans, while those who are born to eat biryani are animals. The statement came in response to Hussain's sarcastic comment in which he had said that God had sent him into the world to eat biryani.
How did the rhetoric about biryani start?
A series of personal comments started between Sarma and Hussain during the campaign for Nagaon by-election. Earlier, the Chief Minister of Assam had compared Rakibul Hussain with the Hindu mythological character 'Bakasur'. Bakasura is known as a character associated with Mahabharata, whose hunger and craving for food is mentioned.
Sarma had made the 'Bakasur' comment while accusing Hussain of alleged misuse of funds earmarked for government schemes. This allegation was part of political criticism of the Chief Minister. There is no evidence of Hussain's acceptance of this allegation in the available reports.
In response to this, Hussain sarcastically said that God has sent him into the world to enjoy biryani. After this, Sarma made his new comment regarding Biryani in the election meeting of Juria. In this way, the issue of food also got included in the ongoing political rhetoric between the two leaders.
What did Himant Sarma say in Juria's rally?
“Those who are born to drink mother's milk are humans and those who are born to eat biryani are animals,” Sarma said at the rally held in Juria. His statement was a direct political retaliation to Hussain's previous comment.
The Chief Minister was then campaigning in support of BJP candidate Devashish Sharma. During the election campaign in Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency, Sarma made several political allegations against the Congress and its leaders. He also targeted Congress MLA Nurul Hooda and raised questions about the development works in his assembly constituency Rupohihat.
Sarma alleged that HUDA did not do enough to develop colleges, schools and roads and extend the benefits of government schemes to women. He also mentioned the promise of providing tap water to every home and said that instead of water, people got only pipes and promises. These allegations are political claims made by the Chief Minister in the election rally.
Political rhetoric intensified amid Nagaon by-election
The Biryani controversy has come to light at a time when the campaign for the by-election on Nagaon Lok Sabha seat has reached its final stage. Voting on this seat is to be held on 6 October 2026, while the counting of votes will take place on 9 October.
The by-election was necessitated after former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the Lok Sabha. After this he switched to BJP and won the election from Dispur assembly seat in April 2026. Due to this reason, Nagaon Lok Sabha seat became vacant and situation of by-election was created here.
Devashish Sharma is contesting from BJP in the election campaign. On the other hand, Congress and other political parties are also trying to reach out to the voters with their candidates. Meanwhile, a mixture of local development, government schemes, political alliances and personal allegations is visible in the speeches of the leaders.
Who is Rakibul Hussain?
Rakibul Hussain is a senior Congress leader and MP from Dhubri Lok Sabha constituency. His role in the campaign of Nagaon by-election has been among the major campaigners of Congress. His political statements with Sarma have been in public before also.
His comment related to biryani is being seen as a reply to Sarma's 'Bakasur' comment. Hussain had presented it as a satire in his statement. After this the Chief Minister's reaction made this issue more prominent in the election campaign.
Amidst this controversy, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal also made a separate comment about Hussain. Ajmal said that Hussain was not born eating biryani, but was born eating dry fish. Referring to Hussain's background, he questioned the statement related to biryani.
Political allegations and counter-allegations between BJP and Congress
Along with the political contest between BJP and Congress in Nagaon by-election, personal statements have also become a part of the election discussion. Sarma is raising questions on Congress regarding development and implementation of government schemes, while Congress leaders are criticizing the policies of the Chief Minister and BJP.
Sarma also commented on AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal and advised him to step away from active politics and hand over the responsibility to his sons. He also alleged direct or indirect political understanding between Congress and AIUDF. However, this is also a political claim of Sarma.
On the other hand, the use of references like biryani, bakasur and dry fish in the election campaign has taken the local political debate towards personal and cultural commentaries. It is important to see such statements in the political speeches of their respective leaders and in the electoral context.
Campaigning in the last phase before the elections
The campaign for Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election is in the final stages before the October 6 polling. Sarma has addressed several election meetings in Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency and tried to garner support in favor of the BJP candidate. Congress and other parties are also reaching out to voters with their respective issues.
In this election, issues like local development, benefits of government schemes, roads, education, water and employment along with political identities and alliances are also in discussion. The election strategy and speeches of both the parties will be monitored in the coming days.
At present, the debate over biryani between Himanta Biswa Sarma and Rakibul Hussain has become a major topic of discussion in the campaign for Nagaon by-election. However, apart from such statements, the final result of the election will be clear only after the counting of votes on October 9.