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The controversy erupted on Monday when Kharge alleged that semiconductor projects intended for Karnataka were being diverted to Gujarat and Assam.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge. (PTI file photos)
A political slugfest has broken out between Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, after the latter called Kharge a “first-class idiot” for questioning Assam’s talent pool in the context of semiconductor investments. What began as a debate on industrial policy has quickly spiralled into a full-blown war of words between the Congress and the BJP.
Assam BJP joins the fray
Adding fuel to the fire, the Assam BJP unit mocked Kharge in a post on X, writing, “Hello Teddy Boy, writing long essays on X doesn’t make you a semiconductor expert.”
The party further jibed, “Instead of giving lectures about Assam, maybe take a good hard look at your own backyard – your district still tops the chart of poverty in South India. So much for your ‘talent tank’, huh?”
Hello Teddy Boy, writing long essays on X doesn’t make you a “semiconductor expert”😂Instead of giving lectures about Assam, maybe take a good hard look at your own backyard- your district still tops the chart of poverty in South India. So much for your “talent tank”, huh? 💀 https://t.co/a0LFTWjPPX— BJP Assam Pradesh (@BJP4Assam) October 27, 2025
What Kharge said?
The controversy erupted on Monday when Kharge alleged that semiconductor projects intended for Karnataka were being diverted to Gujarat and Assam under pressure from the Central government.
“Why are semiconductor industries going to Assam and Gujarat when they actually want to come to Bengaluru? All the investments meant for Karnataka are being arm-twisted by the Centre,” Kharge told a news channel.
The minister claimed that Karnataka’s robust engineering talent pool and tech ecosystem made it the natural choice for such investments, and accused the BJP-led Centre of playing politics with industrial growth.
Himanta Biswa Sarma hits back
Reacting sharply, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described Kharge as a “first-class idiot”, saying his remarks were an insult to Assam’s educated youth.
He further hinted at taking legal action, stating that his government was considering registering a case against Kharge for making a “derogatory statement” against the people of Assam.
Sarma also criticised the Congress leadership for not condemning what he termed a “deeply objectionable and arrogant comment.”
Unfazed by the backlash, Kharge took to social media to accuse Sarma of “whitewashing his failures” and twisting his statement for political mileage.
“My statement is clear – semiconductor companies were pressured to set up in Gujarat and Assam even when they preferred Karnataka. The only thing Mr Sarma has managed to grow is his own wealth,” Kharge wrote on X.
He alleged that corruption scandals in Assam were thriving under Sarma’s leadership, leaving the youth without jobs or opportunities.
Kharge went on to predict that the BJP’s days in Assam were numbered, promising that a Congress government in 2026 would focus on “skilling, employability, and rebuilding public faith in governance.”
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public…Read More
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public… Read More
Delhi, India, India
October 28, 2025, 09:26 IST
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