GUWAHATI, India — Feb. 19, 2026 — Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Thursday released a 20-point chargesheet against the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led Assam government ahead of the state Assembly elections, outlining what the party described as key concerns and grievances of the people.
According to the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), the chargesheet was prepared by a committee headed by Member of Parliament Pradyut Bordoloi and contains 20 major allegations against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Bharatiya Janata Party government. The document was released during a program held at the Manvendra Sharma Complex in Guwahati.
Addressing the gathering, APCC President Gaurav Gogoi said Priyanka Gandhi had taken responsibility for leading the Screening Committee after engaging with people across the state. He said the move reflects the seriousness with which the Congress party is preparing for the upcoming Assembly elections and asserted that the party is ready for a decisive political contest.
Bordoloi said the chargesheet was compiled after five teams traveled throughout Assam to gather public feedback. He said inputs were collected from grassroots organizations, indigenous groups, business communities, intellectuals, and other stakeholders, and that the document reflects allegations raised by citizens against the state government.
The chargesheet includes allegations of the operation of a “syndicate raj” from Dispur, encouragement and protection of illegal activities such as rat-hole mining to generate unlawful funds, and claims that Assam has been turned into a government-protected corridor for transporting banned goods and drugs across international borders.
It further alleges the existence of a syndicate-controlled system that collects money on goods entering and leaving the state to ensure uninterrupted movement. These goods reportedly include timber, sand, stone, coal, iron, Burmese betel nut, poultry, cattle, fish, eggs, spices, cigarettes, and other commodities, with fixed commissions allegedly collected at designated checkpoints.
The document also claims that despite repeated adverse observations by the Comptroller and Auditor General, illegal trade has continued. It alleges the creation of an institutionalized commission system affecting healthcare services, public works projects, transfers and postings of officials, and tender processes, which the Congress party claims has weakened governance.
Additional allegations include claims that the Chief Minister, ministers, and legislators have accumulated illegal assets in their own names and in the names of family members. The chargesheet also raises concerns about repeated government borrowing despite audit warnings, failure to grant Scheduled Tribe status to six communities, alleged eviction of indigenous people, and allocation of land to corporate interests.
The document further alleges neglect of the Assam Accord and failure to implement Clause 6, along with claims of irregularities in the National Register of Citizens process, including allegations of a Rs 1,600 crore scam.
Other issues cited include alleged biased demolition actions against citizens, suppression of freedom of speech and media, failure to fulfill promises of higher wages for tea garden workers, environmental damage due to illegal mining, inadequate employment generation, and shortcomings in healthcare and public education.
Senior Congress leaders and party workers present at the event included Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Screening Committee members Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, Imran Masood, and Dr. Srivella Prasad, Assam in-charge Jitendra Singh, Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia, Member of Parliament Rakibul Hussain, and former APCC President Ripun Bora.
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