Days before the Assam Assembly election, the political buzz has intensified in the state, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress trading allegations. The controversy has now drawn in Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's family, after Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged that Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, possesses multiple passports, raising questions about compliance with Indian law. Khera further flagged concerns around dual citizenship norms and called for more transparency regarding disclosures made in official affidavits.
"Himanta Biswa Sarma's entire politics is based on hatred against Muslims, but how does his wife hold passports from two Muslim countries?" he asked. Later, Assam Congress President Gaurav Gogoi demanded a probe into the matter. Meanwhile, Sarma on Monday invoked the St Kitts forgery case to target the Congress, warning that any alleged fabrication in the ongoing passport row involving Gaurav Gogoi and Pawan Khera over claims linked to his wife would invite strict legal action.
Who Is Riniki Bhuyan Sarma?
Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, holds a degree in law and has also been a tennis player who represented Assam at the national level. Riniki leads one of the biggest media groups in the Northeast. Under her leadership, the company runs two news channels - News Live and North East Live, three entertainment channels and an Assamese newspaper called Niyamiya Barta.
Riniki was born on July 31, 1973, in Guwahati. She comes from a well-known family, as her father, Jadav Chandra Bhuyan, was an industrialist. She studied at St Mary’s School and later completed both her graduation and post-graduation from Cotton College in Guwahati. After that, she studied LLB and is now registered with the Bar Council of India.
ALSO READ: Noida Traffic: 5.5 km Elevated Road To Cut Master Plan Road Travel Time From 30 To 10 Minutes
She first met Himanta Biswa Sarma while studying at Cotton College, where he was the General Secretary. Their relationship grew during their college days, and after being together for about 10 years, they got married. They have two children: a son named Nandil Biswa Sarma and a daughter named Sukanya Sarma.
As per an election affidavit filed in 2021, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma's total assets have seen a rise over the years. Her wealth increased from Rs 5.27 crore in 2016 to Rs 14.47 crore, including both movable and immovable assets.