The present Assam Chief Minister has openly accused the previous government of allowing a large-scale job scam to take place during his tenure, triggering a major political storm in the state. In a strong and direct statement, Himanta Biswa Sarma alleged that before 2021, government job appointment letters were issued only after candidates paid huge sums of money. The remarks are being seen as a serious accusation against the previous government and point to a clear political rift between the current Chief Minister and his predecessor.
Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that between ₹10 lakh and ₹15 lakh had to be paid by candidates to secure government jobs during the period before 2021. His statement has brought back old questions about corruption, accountability, and governance, especially because the period mentioned falls under the tenure of former Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who led the state from 2016 to 2021 and is now a Union Minister.
According to the Chief Minister, the practice of paying money for job appointment letters was widely known but never properly addressed. He said that many deserving candidates were denied opportunities because they could not afford to pay such large amounts. Instead, he alleged, jobs were allegedly given to those who had money, damaging the credibility of the recruitment system and creating deep public resentment. 
What has made the issue more serious is the contrast between past claims and present allegations. During his time as Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal had repeatedly stated that corruption had “zero tolerance” in Assam. His government had projected an image of clean governance and transparent administration. However, Himanta Biswa Sarma’s remarks have now raised questions about whether those promises were actually implemented on the ground.
In his speech, the Chief Minister did not name individuals directly but clearly pointed towards the period before 2021. He questioned why leaders who once held high constitutional posts had failed to act if such corruption was taking place openly. He also referred to several issues from earlier years that were discussed publicly and even officially clarified at times, but were later left without proper follow-up or action.
Himanta Biswa Sarma said that people who made strong commitments to fight corruption must answer what concrete steps they took. According to him, silence on such serious matters only increases public suspicion. He stressed that accountability cannot be selective and that past governments must also be questioned if wrongdoing occurred during their tenure.
On the other hand, Sarbananda Sonowal’s response has drawn equal attention. When journalists approached him and asked for his reaction to the allegations, he chose not to respond. He avoided the questions and left without making any statement. His silence has become a central issue in the political debate, with many questioning why a former Chief Minister who once spoke strongly against corruption is now unwilling to address such claims.
The contrasting approaches of the two leaders have highlighted an apparent divide. On one side is the current Chief Minister making bold allegations and drawing attention to past failures. On the other is the former Chief Minister maintaining silence, despite being directly linked to the period under question. This difference has sharpened political tensions and provided fresh ammunition to opposition parties.
This sense of distancing from Sonowal had surfaced earlier as well. On January 5, an incident in Dibrugarh considered Sonowal’s political stronghold raised eyebrows within political circles. During a BJP event held as part of the party’s statewide wall-painting campaign ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, the Dibrugarh district unit reportedly left out Sonowal’s photograph from the event banner, even though he was invited to the programme.
The omission sparked criticism, especially as Sonowal is not only a former Chief Minister but also the sitting MP from Dibrugarh and a Union Minister. The incident led to public reactions on social media, questioning whether the district leadership was deliberately sidelining a senior leader. A strongly worded post by local party supporter Kamaleswar Nath accused the district unit of arrogance and disrespect, asking why a former Chief Minister was ignored in his own constituency.
While the district BJP president later stated that Sonowal had been invited to the event, the explanation failed to settle the controversy. Many within political circles viewed the episode as a sign of growing internal discomfort and shifting power dynamics within the party.
Sonowal himself maintained silence on that issue as well, staying true to his reputation as a non-confrontational leader. However, political observers say that repeated silence both on organisational slights and now on serious corruption allegations has added to speculation about internal rifts within the BJP.
With the 2026 Assembly elections approaching, these developments are being closely watched. Allegations of cash-for-jobs, public silence from a former Chief Minister, and signs of internal unease have combined to create a sensitive political moment for the ruling party in Assam. Whether these issues lead to further clarification, internal course correction, or deeper political confrontation remains to be seen.
