Finance
Union Minister and former BJP national president J. P. Nadda declared on Sunday that Himanta Biswa Sarma had been overwhelmingly elected as the head of the BJP legislature party in Assam, opening the path for him to be sworn in as Chief Minister for a second term.
The decision was made at the meeting of freshly elected BJP legislators in Guwahati, in front of central observers appointed by the party leadership.
The BJP had designated J.P. Nadda and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini as central observers for the election of the BJP legislature party leader in Assam.
Soon after the meeting, Nadda formally announced Sarma’s name and stated that the MPs had unanimously supported his leadership.
The BJP’s alliance partners, the Asom Gana Parishad and the Bodoland People’s Front, also expressed support for Sarma’s continuation as Chief Minister for a second term.
Senior officials from both parties attended the meeting and expressed confidence in Sarma’s leadership, saying that the NDA coalition in Assam would continue to collaborate for the state’s development.
Sarma, who became Assam’s Chief Minister in 2021, has emerged as one of the BJP’s most powerful figures in the Northeast. He assumed the top position after the BJP retained power in the state Assembly elections five years ago.
Before joining the BJP in 2015, Sarma was a senior Congress leader and served as a minister in the Congress government led by former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
After switching sides, he played a key role in strengthening the BJP across the Northeast region. Under his leadership, the BJP expanded its political footprint in Assam and consolidated its alliance with regional parties.
Sarma will take the oath as the Chief Minister on May 12, along with members of his new Council of Ministers.
The BJP, a part of the NDA, alone won 82 seats in the 126-member House in the recently held elections in Assam.
Source: IANS
