New Delhi: With Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inadvertently calling Amit Shah the “Prime Minister” at a public event in the state, the Congress took a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and asked whether the ruling party has decided to replace Narendra Modi from the top post or a campaign has been launched to promote the Union Home Minister as the Prime Minister. The Congress while justifying its assertion drew a comparison with Tezpur MP Pallab Lochan Das, who had on several occasions referred to Himanta Biswa Sarma the “CM” in public when Sarbananda Sonowal was the Chief Minister. “When @sarbanandsonwal Ji was the CM, MP @pallablochandas on several occasions referred to cabinet minister @himantabiswa ji as the CM in public! Has #BJP decided its next @PMOIndia replacing @narendramodi Ji? Or a campaign has been launched to promote @AmitShah ji as the PM?” Assam Congress tweeted.
The BJP soon went into damage control mode with a party leader stating that it was a slip of tongue.
Taking potshots at the Congress, BJP spokesperson Rupam Goswami alleged the grand old party, which has “no real issues” to politically fight the saffron party is trying to flag a “non-issue”.
“Congress has completely lost base in Assam and has no real issues to politically fight the BJP, so it is trying to flag a non-issue. This was an inadvertent slip of tongue and can happen with anyone,” Goswami told NDTV in a telephonic conversation.
The Assam Chief Minister reportedly made the gaffe when he was addressing a public meeting at the Veterinary College Playground at Khanapara in Guwahati to mark the completion of a year of the BJP-led government in the state earlier on Tuesday in the Union Home Minister’s presence.