After being elected unanimously as the legislative leader of the party on Sunday morning, Assam CM-designate Himanta Biswa Sarma heaped praises on his predecessor Sarbanda Sonowal and said he will continue to be a “marg-darshak” to him. Sarma will succeed Sonowal as the 15th Chief Minister of Assam.
Sarma was elected as the leader of the legislative party in Assam, making him the next CM of the state, informed Union Minister and senior BJP leader Narendra Singh Tomar on Sunday, putting an end to weeks of speculation on the subject.
A crucial meeting had been chaired in Delhi on Saturday by BJP chief J.P. Nadda in this connection. Party sources had earlier stated that Sonowal and Sarma had been summoned to the national capital to take a call on the leadership issue in the state.
It is understood that the party was facing issues over the selection of the Chief Minister. Sonowal is considered a leader with a clean image and belongs to Assam’s indigenous tribal community. However, a section of the party feels that Himanta would be a better choice considering his strong organisational skills and appeal with the masses.
Sonowal on Sunday tendered his resignation to Governor Jagdish Chandra Mukhi at Raj Bhavan, Assam. At the meeting held in Guwahati the same day, Sonowal proposed Sarma’s name after Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his approval for his elevation. It was seconded by the MLAs. Sarma, 52, later met Governor Mukhi to stake claim to form the state government. The oath ceremony will be held on Monday.
Praising former CM Sonowal, Sarma said, “He practised politics of values. Sonowal is a leader with foresight, someone who had the vision of uniting the people of ‘Barak-Brahmaputra-plains-hills’ while ensuring no section of the society was left behind. He was our leader and will remain so as our ‘marg-darshak’.
Later, thanking PM Modi, Sarma tweeted: “How enormously blessed I feel Hon PM Sri @narendramodi for your faith in me. This is the biggest day in my life, and I so fondly cherish your generous affection. I assure you we shall leave no stone unturned to carry forward your vision of taking Assam & NE to greater heights.”
After the announcement, Union Minister Jitendra Singh and BJP national vice president Baijayant Panda on Sunday congratulated him for the selection.
“Congratulations Himanta Biswa Sarma for being elected as CM-designate of Assam. I am sure, under your dynamic leadership, the State of Assam and entire Northeast will usher in a new era of development and prosperity, and play an important role in India’s growth story,” tweeted Jitendra Singh.
BJP leader Baijayant Panda also congratulated Sarma in a tweet, saying, “Heartiest congratulations to Himanta Biswa Sarma Ji on being elected new leader of Assam BJP Legislative Party. He was proposed by Sarbananda Sonowal Ji and seconded by Ranjeet Kumar Dass Ji and Nandita Garlosa Ji and elected unanimously under aegis of observers Narendra Singh Tomar Ji and Arun Singh Ji.”
The BJP won a second straight term in the recently concluded Assembly polls in Assam. The party won 60 seats in the 126-member state Assembly while its alliance partners AGP got nine seats and UPPL six seats.
The state’s new Cabinet will take oath at 12 noon on Monday.
Sarma, who switched to the BJP from the Congress six years ago, has been credited as the architect who brought the Northeastern states within the party’s grasp. He also handled the health portfolio in the Sarbananda Sonowal government.