Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma accused Congress of opposing the state’s development after MPs resisted the IIM Bill. With Parliament passing the IIM (Amendment) Bill, 2025, Guwahati will soon host Assam’s first IIM at Palasbari, backed by ₹550 crore, marking a major boost for education and growth.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing the party of consistently working against the state’s developmental interests. He alleged that the Congress has a long history of obstructing projects beneficial for Assam, including the recent opposition to the establishment of a new Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Guwahati.
“Congress has been continually opposing any development in Assam, whether it was the establishment of a semiconductor plant facility or having a new IIM campus in the state. That is why I am not totally surprised when the Congress MPs opposed the passage of the IIM bill in the Lok Sabha,” Sarma said, while addressing the media. “However, I want to make it clear to the Congress party members that people have seen their activities, and Assamese citizens will not accept this act of opposition.”
IIM (Amendment) Bill Clears Parliament
The Chief Minister’s remarks came after the Rajya Sabha passed the Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025, marking what Sarma described as a “historic day” for Assam. The passage of the bill paves the way for the establishment of the state’s first Indian Institute of Management at Palasbari, near Guwahati.
Taking to social media platform X, Sarma hailed the development as a landmark in Assam’s growth story. He credited the achievement to the “unwavering commitment” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with the support of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Chief Minister also extended his gratitude to Members of Parliament who supported the bill, calling the moment a milestone in Assam’s developmental journey.
The Lok Sabha had cleared the bill a day earlier, overcoming noisy protests from the Opposition, which was demonstrating over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. Despite the commotion, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan successfully piloted the bill through the House with a voice vote.
A Boost to Assam’s Growth Aspirations
The Centre has earmarked ₹550 crore as capital assistance for the proposed IIM project. The upcoming institute will be the second IIM in the Northeast, joining IIM Shillong, and will hold the status of an institution of national importance.
The demand for a premier management institute in Assam has been longstanding. State leaders argued that Assam’s geographical significance and its role as a gateway to the Northeast made it an ideal hub for higher education and management studies. With the establishment of IIM Guwahati, policymakers believe the state will witness a surge in academic opportunities, industry partnerships, and overall economic development.
The new IIM is also part of the Special Development Package (SDP) for Assam, laid down under a Memorandum of Settlement signed by the Centre, the state government, and representatives of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA). The agreement underscored the importance of strengthening educational infrastructure in the state to ensure long-term stability, growth, and employment generation.
Political Battle Over Development
While the BJP-led state government has celebrated the bill’s passage as a victory for Assam’s aspirations, Sarma has not missed the opportunity to turn it into a political flashpoint. His sharp criticism of the Congress highlights the widening rift between the ruling party and the Opposition over issues of regional development.
For Sarma, the Congress’s alleged obstructionist stance plays into a larger political narrative of positioning his government and the Centre as champions of Assam’s progress, while casting the Opposition as “anti-Assam.” With the 2026 Assam Assembly elections on the horizon, such narratives are likely to dominate the political discourse.
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The establishment of IIM Guwahati is expected to be a transformative step for Assam, not just in terms of education but also in cementing the state’s role as an emerging hub for knowledge, business, and innovation in the Northeast.
