Biryani, Pulao and Dry Fish Take Centre Stage in Assam’s Nagaon Bypoll Campaign

Campaigning for the October 6 Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll reached its final day on Sunday, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Congress MP Rakibul Hussain and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal trading barbs over biryani, pulao, chicken and dry fish.

The exchange began after Sarma, at an election rally, compared Hussain to mythological figure Bakasura over his alleged appetite. Sarma also accused the Congress leader of consuming meat and pulao several times a day and alleged that he was “digesting” money meant for government schemes.

Hussain responded with sarcasm, saying he was “born to enjoy biryani” and claiming that Allah made him wealthy at birth. He also took a dig at Sarma’s alleged preference for “kata biscuit” or rusk, saying those accustomed to it would not understand the difference between pulao and biryani.

Hussain further joked that while babies normally drink their mother’s milk, he was supposedly born eating chicken biryani.

Sarma hit back at another rally in Nagaon, saying, “Those who are born to drink their mother’s milk are human beings, and those born to eat biryani are animals.”

AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal then joined the exchange, claiming that Hussain was “born eating dry fish, not biryani”. Ajmal also questioned Hussain’s claim of being born into wealth, saying he came from a poor background.

The food-themed war of words has emerged as a prominent flashpoint in the final phase of the Nagaon bypoll campaign.

The Nagaon Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the party and joined the BJP. The BJP has fielded former Nagaon Deputy Commissioner Devasish Sharma, while Congress has nominated former Batadrava MLA Sibamoni Bora. Ajmal is also contesting the seat.

Polling for the Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll will be held on October 6.