Political War Erupts Between Priyank Kharge and Himanta Biswa Sarma Over “Talent” Remark Amid Semiconductor Row

Bengaluru: A fresh political storm has erupted between Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma after Kharge’s comments questioning the “talent pool” in Assam and Gujarat sparked a fierce war of words between the Congress and BJP.

Speaking at a recent public event, Kharge — who handles the Rural Development and IT/BT portfolio in Karnataka — accused the Central government of diverting major semiconductor projects away from Karnataka to BJP-ruled states. “Why are semiconductor industries going to Assam and Gujarat when they actually want to come to Bengaluru? What is there in Gujarat? Is there talent there? What is there in Assam? Is there talent there?” he reportedly asked, suggesting that the moves were politically motivated.

His remarks triggered strong reactions from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who called Kharge’s comments “an insult to the youth of Assam.” In a scathing post on X, Sarma said, “Son of INC President, Priyank Kharge, has insulted Assam’s youth and Assam Congress doesn’t even dare to condemn him. He is a first-class idiot.”

The Assam CM went a step further, stating that the government might explore legal options against the Karnataka minister. “We might file a case against him because his statement is an insult to Assamese youth,” Sarma told reporters.

Responding to the backlash, Kharge clarified that his words had been “deliberately twisted” by the BJP for political mileage. “My statement was clear — I said semiconductor firms were being pressured to go to Gujarat and Assam even though they preferred Karnataka for its strong engineering ecosystem,” he explained on X.

The Karnataka minister hit back at Sarma, accusing him of presiding over a state that lags behind in several key metrics. “Assam ranks among the bottom five states in health, education, and economic growth. The youth there are struggling for jobs. The only thing Mr. Sarma has managed to grow is his own wealth,” Kharge alleged, while calling the Assam CM a “third-rate crook.”

The war of words escalated as the BJP’s Assam unit joined in, mocking Kharge as a “Teddy Boy.” In a post on X, BJP Assam wrote, “Hello Teddy Boy, writing long essays on X doesn’t make you a semiconductor expert. Maybe take a look at your own district, which still tops the chart of poverty in South India.”