Assam CM Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma took a swipe at Akhil Gogoi, calling him a “good entertainer” and suggesting that people follow his Facebook Lives and press meets only for amusement.
Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday (Jan 6) dismissed the frivolous allegations of deletion of voters’ names from electoral rolls and termed the Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi as nothing but an “entertainer”.
Akhil Gogoi had alleged that the State Government is planning to strike off the names of legitimate voters from the electoral rolls in 60 constituencies claiming that the move is specifically designed to disenfranchise Muslim and anti-BJP voters.
The Raijor Dol leader, who has faced a massive backlash from the BJP as well as people across the State over his absurd allegations, had also said that minister Ashok Singhal has been entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing this voter deletion process.
Chief Minister Dr Sarma responded to the allegations with sharp sarcasm, and refused to take the Raijor Dal leader seriously.
“Akhil Gogoi is a good entertainer. One should watch his Facebook Lives and press meets only to feel entertained, not for any serious discussion. No one pays attention to his words,” Chief Minister Dr Sarma told reporters on the sidelines of a Mukhyamantrir Mahila Udyomita Abhiyan (MMUA) cheque distribution function in Bokakhat.
State BJP president Dilip Saikia also weighed in, dismissing Gogoi’s claims as a “sign of desperation”.
Saikia, also the Mangaldai Lok Sabha MP (renamed Darrang-Udalguri after the delimitation process), said Gogoi has sensed the mood of the people and is now resorting to “politics of appeasement” to regain ground.
He further added that even Gogoi’s own political allies don’t trust his statements.
