Guwahati: In the districts of Dhemaji and Tinsukia, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidates’ panchayat election campaign.

“The time has come now that the Congress should change its symbol from Hand to Lungi,” CM Biswa Sarma said during an election campaign rally in Dhemaji on Monday, further criticizing the Congress.

“Ask Congress: Did universities provide free admission while you were in office? No… Was there a cost to complete the Class 10 form? Indeed… Did you oversee the construction of the Dhemaji Medical College, the Dhemaji Engineering College, the Nijut Moina scheme, the Orunodoi scheme, the free distribution of rice, and a robust embankment? No, but the only things present were the mosquito net, thread, dhoti, and lungi. For this reason, I advise congressmen to switch from the hand sign to the lungi. Because only Lungi, Dhoti, Thread, and Mosquito Net are understood by Congress. We just received a lungi, thread, and a mosquito net from the Congress,” CM Sarma said.

He said , “Our agenda is simple – to carry forward with our development and welfare initiatives with greater vigor and make every village a model village.”

He said that the state administration had awarded 1.5 lakh government jobs without corruption during the last four years.

“Rs 15,000 crore would have been deposited at my home if I had taken Rs 1 lakh against each employment. However, we are working for impoverished Assamese people. We will penalize those who steal money, and we don’t need it. Nobody will be spared. “Our young people ought to be hired without any bribery,” he said.

21920 Gaon Panchayat members, 2192 Gramme Panchayat Presidents, 2192 Gramme Panchayat Vice Presidents, 2192 Anchalik Panchayat members, 181 Anchalik Panchayat Presidents, 181 Anchalik Panchayat Vice Presidents, and 397 Zilla Parishad members are listed, according to the State Election Commission.

Assam’s panchayat elections are scheduled between May 2 and May 7. On May 11, the votes will be counted. More than 1.80 crore voters will cast ballots at 25007 polling places, including 90.71 lakh men, 89.65 lakh women, and 408 other voters.