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A fresh political spat erupted on Monday between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Karnataka IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge over the allocation of semiconductor plant investments. The row began after Kharge allegedly claimed that projects originally meant for Karnataka were being diverted to Gujarat and Assam—both BJP-ruled states—due to what he termed “arm-twisting” by the Centre. Kharge reportedly also remarked that Assam lacked the necessary talent pool for large-scale industries, a statement that drew strong criticism from Sarma. Sarma hits back, calls Kharge’s remarks an insult to Assamese youth Reacting sharply, Chief Minister Sarma said, “Priyank Kharge is a first-class idiot. He has insulted Assamese youth.” He further stated that his government was considering filing a case against the Karnataka minister for the remarks. Sarma’s comments quickly went viral on social media, triggering a heated debate about regional pride, industrial development, and political one-upmanship between the two states. Priyank Kharge accuses BJP of twisting his words Responding to the backlash, Priyank Kharge took to social media platform X to clarify his comments. “As usual, the BJP and CM Himanta Biswa Sarma are twisting my words. My statement is clear and very specific. It is about how semiconductor companies were being pressured to set up plants in Gujarat and Assam, even when they had expressed a clear interest in Karnataka,” he wrote. Kharge asserted that his remarks were not meant to undermine the talent or potential of Assam’s youth but to highlight what he called “political interference in investment decisions.” Kharge cites poor performance of Assam under BJP rule Continuing his attack, Kharge criticised the BJP government in Assam, accusing it of corruption and poor governance. “After nearly a decade of BJP rule, Assam today ranks among the bottom five states in crucial development indicators like health, education and economic growth, as per NITI Aayog’s latest report. The only thing Mr Sarma has managed to grow is his own wealth,” he alleged. He also questioned the employment scenario in the state, adding, “Instead of trying to whitewash his failures by giving my statements a political spin, the CM should ask himself what he’s done for the young people of his state. Why are they leaving Assam to find work elsewhere?” Background: India’s semiconductor race The exchange comes amid India’s push to become a global semiconductor manufacturing hub. States such as Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Assam have been competing to attract major investments in chip fabrication and electronics manufacturing. While Gujarat recently secured the country’s first major semiconductor plant under the Vedanta-Foxconn partnership, Karnataka has been seeking fresh proposals to bolster its existing technology ecosystem in Bengaluru. Assam, on the other hand, has been promoting new industrial policies to attract large-scale investments in the Northeast. The Centre has consistently maintained that project approvals are based on technical and economic feasibility, not political considerations. Political implications The exchange between the Congress-led Karnataka government and the BJP-ruled Assam government has taken on political overtones, with both parties using the issue to highlight contrasting governance models. Analysts suggest that the controversy reflects a broader narrative of federal competition for central investments, as well as growing political friction ahead of upcoming state and national elections. As the war of words continues online, both leaders are yet to provide any further clarification or apology.
