Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday lashed out at his Chhattisgarh counterpart Bhupesh Baghel, accusing him of promoting religious conversion in the state to weaken Sanatan Dharma.

Addressing a public rally in Mahasamund city, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader urged people to elect the BJP to power in Chhattisgarh so that a "double-engine government" can work for its development.

He also targeted Rahul Gandhi, saying the Congress leader has never visited the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Sarma's rally was held ahead of the filing of nominations of BJP candidates from four constituencies: Mahasamund, Khallari, Basna and Saraipali in Mahasamund district.

"Religious conversions are taking place. A conspiracy is being played to convert tribals in every part of the state. Sanatan (Dharma) is being attacked," he said.

"We should think about what the Congress has given in the last five years. Has Baghel opened any university? In Assam, medical colleges have been set up in each district. There has been no basic transformation in the state (Chhattisgarh)."

Targeting the Congress, he said 75 years passed since India got Independence but it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi who finally constructed a Ram temple in Ayodhya. He asked why the Congress failed to build the temple all these years.

"I have never seen any Congress leader visiting the Ram temple. Rahul Gandhi goes to temples during elections but he doesn't go to the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya as he is scared that people of Babar will get annoyed and abuse him,” he added.

He hit out at the Congress government in Chhattisgarh over its promise of loan waiver to farmers and said the Congress made the same promise in the last election but did not fulfill it fully. Elections to the Chhattisgarh assembly will be held on November 7 and 17.