Assam Bypoll Turns 'Biryani vs Rusk' As Himanta Sarma Spars With Congress MP

Food has become a constant motif in the campaign for the October 6 Lok Sabha bypoll for Nagaon in Assam, with biryani, rusk, and even dry fish at the centre. Community coding and claims of riches are built into the barbs by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress MP Rakibul Hussain. The exchange began after Sarma, campaigning for the BJP candidate Devasish Sharma, took a swipe at Hussain during an election rally, comparing the Congress MP to Bakasura, a Hindu mythological figure known for an enormous appetite. Sarma alleged that Hussain, who has been campaigning for the Congress's Sibamoni Bora, eats meat and pulao several times a day just as he "digests money" meant for government schemes.

Hussain hit back with sarcasm, saying he was born to enjoy biryani. "God sent me into this world to eat biryani and made me wealthy when I was born," Hussain said, taking a dig at the Chief Minister.

He further mocked Sarma over his alleged preference for "kata biscuit" or rusk, saying those who survive on such food would not understand the difference between pulao and biryani. Hussain also joked about his childhood, saying that while babies normally drink their mother's milk after birth, he was apparently born eating chicken biryani.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma campaigning in Nagaon.

Sarma then escalated the exchange. "Those who are born to drink their mother's milk are human beings, and those born to eat biryani are animals," Sarma said.

The controversy then drew in AIUDF chief Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, who is also contesting for the seat, which fell vacant just ahead of state polls earlier this year when the then Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the party and joined the BJP.

"Rakibul Hussain was born eating dry fish, not biryani," Ajmal said, questioning his claim of having been born into wealth: "He was a poor man. Where would he get biryani from?" Ajmal has an old grudge against Hussain. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Ajmal, then a three-time incumbent MP for Dhubri, was defeated by Rakibul Hussain by a historic margin of over 10 lakh votes, which was the second-highest victory margin in those elections.

The BJP has fielded former Nagaon Deputy Commissioner Devasish Sharma, while Congress has nominated former Batadrava MLA Sibamoni Bora. Polling is scheduled for October 6, and results on October 9.