Financial aid to Assam’s flood-hit delayed to deny Akhil Gogoi credit, says CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said the state government was deliberately holding back disbursement of financial assistance to flood-affected residents in the eastern districts to prevent opposition MLA Akhil Gogoi from claiming political credit for the release of funds.
Sarma’s remarks, made at a press conference on October 4, 2026, came amid an ongoing sit-in by Gogoi at the Assam Legislative Assembly premises, where the Raijor Dal president has been protesting for three days to press for immediate aid to families hit by the recent deluge.
Background: Protests over aid and a devastating deluge
Gogoi launched what he termed an “indefinite satyagraha” on October 2, asserting that no substantive financial help had reached most of the affected people even after more than 75 days since severe floods struck the eastern districts. He described the calamity as a “catastrophic disaster and not an annual flood,” alleging that the government’s response had been inadequate and delayed.
At least 108 people died in this year’s floods in Assam, which also destroyed or damaged homes, schools, roads, embankments, cattle sheds, fisheries and health centres, according to official figures cited by the government.
CM’s remarks: ‘Will not let him take credit’
Sarma said he had discussed compensation with Gogoi about a week earlier and shared details of the government’s plans. The chief minister alleged that Gogoi subsequently tried to position himself to take credit for any forthcoming financial assistance.
“Around seven days ago, Gogoi had spoken to me over the phone at length on the compensation issue… I had explained to him in detail. Now, when he knows that people will get the money, he wants to take the credit. We have to delay the disbursement so that he cannot claim the credit,” Sarma told reporters.
“My mistake was sharing with him details about the compensation. He is indulging in politics over the matter, and so will I,” he added.
The chief minister further claimed that “people have lost faith” in Gogoi, and alleged that the MLA and “another person” believed they could persuade the public that they were responsible for the release of the aid. Sarma did not identify the other person. He also took a swipe at two women opposition leaders, accusing them of “hopping from one party’s protest to another” to build their political profile, without naming them.
Gogoi’s response: ‘Indefinite satyagraha’ until relief is disbursed
Responding to Sarma’s comments, Gogoi said he was driven to launch the protest because no meaningful monetary relief had reached the majority of those affected, despite the scale of destruction. “I sat on protest on October 2, which was the 76th day of the floods hitting the eastern districts. No monetary relief has been extended, barring some families receiving an ex gratia of ₹15,000 each,” he told PTI.
Gogoi accused the chief minister of politicising a grave humanitarian issue. “I started my protest to remind the government how they have forgotten the people who lost everything,” he said, insisting that the administration’s handling of the crisis was “unacceptable.”
Demands for compensation and inquiry
As part of his charter of demands, Gogoi has sought a minimum compensation of ₹10 lakh for every flood-affected family in Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat districts. He has also urged the government to provide ₹15,000 as a one-time interim financial assistance to flood-hit people across the three districts, and an additional ₹10,000 to residents of Sivasagar and Charaideo — an amount he said had already been announced by the chief minister.
Beyond immediate relief, Gogoi has called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the circumstances that led to what he described as “unprecedented” floods this year, arguing that accountability and systemic fixes are essential to prevent a repeat of the disaster.
Political temperature rises as relief remains pending
Sarma’s explicit admission that disbursement is being delayed to blunt Gogoi’s political messaging has sharpened the confrontation between the ruling establishment and the opposition. The chief minister’s remarks also raise questions about timelines for aid delivery to thousands of families still coping with loss of life, livelihoods and property.
While Sarma maintained that Gogoi was attempting to gain mileage from impending payments, the opposition has framed the delay as a failure of governance. Gogoi’s sit-in is set to continue until the government releases assistance at the scale he has demanded, or provides a concrete schedule and framework for relief that satisfies the protesters.
What to watch
With winter approaching and many families still in temporary accommodation or repairing damaged homes and farms, the timing and scale of disbursement in Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat will be closely watched. Whether the state moves ahead with interim payments, engages with Gogoi’s demands on quantum of compensation, or responds to calls for a CBI inquiry could shape both the relief effort and the political narrative in the weeks ahead.
Conclusion
The standoff underscores a deepening rift over disaster relief in Assam: the government insists it will not let the opposition claim credit for aid, while protesters argue that politics has no place in responding to a humanitarian crisis. As the death toll and damage underscore the flood’s severity, the urgency of timely and transparent assistance remains paramount for affected communities in the eastern districts.
