Guwahati, Nov 7: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has directed the state police to investigate an alleged job scandal involving Congress MP Rakibul Hussain. The CM made the announcement during a rally for BJP ally AGP candidate Diptimayee Choudhury in the Bongaigaon by-election, referring to longstanding rumors about backdoor job appointments during Hussain’s tenure as Minister of State for Home in the previous Congress-led government.

Sarma stated that Hussain had recently acknowledged offering jobs during his time in office, prompting the decision to launch an investigation. “A minister cannot appoint individuals to jobs. I have instructed the police to question Rakibul Hussain after the elections to clarify how and to whom he provided employment,” Sarma said.

The inquiry follows the recent case of Rakesh Pal, former chairman of the Assam Public Service Commission, who was jailed for his involvement in a job scam. Sarma noted that while rumors about the issue had been circulating for some time, it was Hussain’s admission that led to the government’s decision to initiate an investigation.

Hussain, who won the Dhubri Lok Sabha seat earlier this year with a significant margin, is also actively campaigning for his son Tanzil in the Samaguri by-election, scheduled for November 13, with the vote count slated for November 23.