Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday (May 7) during an election rally in poll-bound Karnataka that before the Congress party and its leader Rahul Gandhi could guarantee anything, he asked, "Who can take Rahul Gandhi's guarantee?" Saying after the Congress leader lost the election battle in Uttar Pradesh he went to Kerala, "One day his face becomes like Saddam Hussein's and another day like Amul baby," the Assam CM said.
Earlier in the day, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar engaged in a verbal spat that began when Himanta claimed Shivakumar is descended from Tipu Sultan. Shivakumar responded that Himanta should be aware that his blood belongs to Congress, despite the fact that he has now changed his name. Shivakumar should be proud of his ancestors, Himanta said.
In response to the issue of Tipu Jayanti in Karnataka, Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that Siddaramaiah should travel to Pakistan if he wishes to celebrate Tipu Jayanti. "I come from Assam which came under Mughal attack 17 times. But the Mughals could not defeat us. Today I bow to this holy land because the Kodagu people also defeated Tipu Sultan many times," Himanta said in Kodagu on Saturday.
The Assam chief minister has been campaigning extensively in Karnataka, and Rahul Gandhi has been his usual target in his rallies. On Sunday, he drew Sonia Gandhi's name into the fray, saying, "Sonia Gandhi has been fighting alone for the last 20 years to make Rahul Gandhi stand, and now this person (Rahul Gandhi) comes and gives a guarantee to the people of Karnataka."