India, Feb. 24 -- In what is being seen as a major political setback for Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has been appointed President of the India-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group for the 18th Lok Sabha - despite months of allegations levelled against him by the Assam CM.

The nomination, made by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, comes at a time when Sarma has been publicly accusing Gogoi of having "links with Pakistan" and raising questions about his wife's alleged connections with individuals in that country.

The Lok Sabha has constituted Parliamentary Friendship Groups with 64 countries, with several senior Opposition leaders heading these forums. Each group comprises 11 members, including MPs fr...