A social media post by Himanta Biswa Sarma praising road infrastructure in Assam has triggered a political and online controversy, after critics alleged that the video shared by him was created using artificial intelligence.

The chief minister had posted a 26-second aerial clip on his account on X, showing traffic moving smoothly along a busy highway. In the post, Sarma compared the visual to an "F1 track", highlighting what he described as improvements in the state’s road infrastructure.

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Soon after the clip was shared, several social media users questioned its authenticity, claiming the footage appeared computer-generated.

Opposition raises questions over video

Critics pointed to what they said were unusual traffic patterns in the clip, including vehicles appearing to move on the wrong side of the road according to Indian driving norms. Reetam Singh criticised the post, accusing the ruling party’s social media team of using artificial intelligence to create misleading visuals.

"BJP IT Cell while generating fake AI videos should remember that the penalty to drive the wrong way on National Highway is ₹5000," Singh said in a statement while questioning the clip. Some users also shared photographs of damaged roads in the state and news reports about highway conditions to challenge the chief minister’s claim.

Sarma responds to criticism

Responding to the controversy, Sarma reposted the video with a caption rejecting the allegations.

"Artificial Intelligence (red X) Assam Infrastructure (green tick)," he wrote while sharing the clip again. Members of his cabinet also defended the chief minister and criticised the opposition for questioning the video.

Pijush Hazarika said critics were unwilling to acknowledge the state’s infrastructure development and accused them of dismissing genuine visuals as artificial intelligence. He also shared another video of a crowded road during the BJP’s Jana Ashirwad Yatra, which was led by Sarma, claiming it showed the same highway featured in the original clip.

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"Will they now call this video AI too?" Hazarika asked while defending the government’s claims. Similarly, Bimal Borah posted another video of a national highway at night and mocked those who alleged the earlier footage was generated by artificial intelligence.

Political debate over infrastructure

The controversy has intensified the political debate between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Indian National Congress over infrastructure development in Assam.

While government leaders say the clip reflects improvements in the state’s highway network, opposition figures argue that ground realities in several areas remain far from the picture presented online.