Senior Congress leader Ripun Bora and Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress president Mira Borthakur Goswami has criticised Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for what they described as a shocking and deliberate U-turn on the historic “Sankar–Ajan” legacy. Bora reminded the public that only a few years ago, Sarma had proudly hailed Assam as the land of “Sankar–Ajan,” acknowledging Assamese Muslims and their spiritual link to Sufi saint Ajan Fakir. But now, as the 2026 Assembly elections approach, the Chief Minister has begun rejecting the very same narrative, triggering anger and disbelief across political and social circles.
Ripun Bora said that Sarma’s dramatic shift in tone exposes his political opportunism and reveals a mindset driven only by electoral calculations. In a strongly worded message, Bora said that in 2021 the Chief Minister openly praised the “Sankar–Ajan” idea and recognised Assamese Muslims as part of Assam’s history of resistance against Mughal rule. Today, the same leader is dismissing the concept, denying the cultural bridge between Srimanta Sankardeva and Ajan Fakir only because it no longer suits his hardline political script. Bora accused the Chief Minister of contradicting himself repeatedly, and said Assam deserves a mentally stable and responsible leader whose words do not change with the political weather.
Mira Borthakur Goswami, President of the Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress, went even further. She said that the present Chief Minister is a man of different views at different times ; a political actor who changes positions the way others change clothes. She appealed to the people of Assam to look back at his old statements and tweets and judge for themselves. According to Mira Borthakur Goswami, the irony is glaring, the same man who today brands Assamese Muslims as outsiders had once described Ajan Fakir as an integral part of Assam’s spiritual heritage. She reminded the public that as part of the state leadership, Sarma himself had endorsed a budget allocation of Rs 10 crore for the development of Ajan Peer Kshetra in Sivasagar, acknowledging his legacy and respect among Assamese people. 
Historical records firmly support this. Ajan Fakir also known as Azan Peer was a Sufi saint from Baghdad who settled near Sivasagar centuries ago and became deeply influenced by the Bhakti teachings of Srimanta Sankardeva and Mahapurush Madhabdev. He composed devotional “Zikirs,” encouraging peace and unity across communities. The Assam state budget of 2016–17 clearly recorded financial allocation for the development of the Ajan Peer pilgrimage site, recognising his place in the cultural history of the state. Yet today the Chief Minister is seen distancing himself from the very same heritage he once praised.
The Chief Minister’s political journey makes the situation even more striking. As a senior Congress leader earlier, Himanta Biswa Sarma had publicly spoken about the need to embrace the ideals of Sankardeva and Ajan Fakir. Old social media posts clearly show him urging others even states like Gujarat to learn from their message of harmony. But after joining the BJP and later becoming Chief Minister, critics say his tone has changed radically. Instead of promoting unity, he now appears to be building a narrative that divides Assamese people based on identity and religion.
The Congress party has accused the BJP government in Assam of aggressively pushing communal politics and erasing Assam’s inclusive history for short-term electoral advantage. According to opposition leaders, the idea of “Sankar–Ajan” represented a powerful symbol of Assamese civilisation, one where Hindu and Muslim spiritual traditions coexisted peacefully. By rejecting this idea now, they say the Chief Minister is attacking the very roots of Assam’s identity.
When a Chief Minister publicly abandons positions he once proudly defended, it raises questions about credibility and intention. The opposition claims that Sarma’s words today are not guided by principle, but by a desire to polarise voters ahead of elections. Ripun Bora and Mira Borthakur Goswami have warned that Assam’s hard-earned social harmony must not be sacrificed at the altar of majoritarian politics.
