Guwahati, March 20 -- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said the Congress leadership in the state is "in a state of collapse," citing senior leaders joining the BJP as evidence of the party's decline ahead of the assembly elections.

Speaking to the reporters, CM Sarma said, "If a tall Congress leader is joining the BJP, Congress leadership would be called a failure...That shows how Congress leadership is in a state of collapse in Assam."

He also reflected on his political journey, saying he turned his first electoral defeat at age 26 into successive wins with increasing margins, including a last election victory by 1 lakh votes, and expressed confidence in maintaining a strong lead.

"I first fought an election when I w...