Ending all speculations, Himanta Biswa Sarma finally becomes CM of Assam

May 9: Finally, the curtain was pulled over the long grown suspense in the political horizon of Assam. Ending all speculations, Himanta Biswa Sarma became the Chief Minister of Assam. After a hectic Saturday for Sonowal along with his chief contender Himanta Biswa Sarma, even the top BJP leadership had rounds of meeting with the duo. Finally, Himanta was able to have the final smile in achieving a post, he desired to have since long when he was in Congress. It was learnt that in the meeting of newly elected MLA’s of BJP, the name of Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma as the leader of the legislative party was proposed by the outgoing Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal himself which was seconded by State BJP chief Ranjit Kumar Das. Finally, Union Minister & central Observer Narendra Singh Tomar made this much awaited announcement. In all probability, Dr. Sarma will take the oath on Monday.

In presence of the central observers, Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Government of India and Arun Singh, National General Secretary BJP, the newly elected MLAs  decided on the leader of the Assam Legislative Assembly on Sunday afternoon. However, as per sources, the decision of the newly elected MLA’s on the issue of selection of Chief Minister on Sunday was just to ratify the choice of the central leadership of the party which was already made on Saturday in Delhi. Earlier during the day, Sarbananda Sonowal met the Governor and tendered his resignation. Meanwhile, AGP, alliance partner of BJP has also lend their support to Himanta Biswa Sarma as the leader of the legislative party.

The choice was not at all an easy matter for the party leadership. It was a choice between the incumbent Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal who has a good rapport with them by virtue of serving as a Union Minister in the Modi cabinet and possessing a clean image or Himanta Biswa Sarma, the blue eyed boy of BJP, who is also the trouble-shooter of the party not only in Assam but in the entire North East India. As per sources, outgoing Chief Minister Sarbanada Sonowal will soon be given a cabinet berth by the Union government.

In the recent Assam Assembly elections 2021, results of which were announced on May 2, the BJP-led alliance was able to win 75 seats out of 126 total seats and retained power in the state. While the BJP won 60 seats, its alliance partners United Liberation Party Liberal (UPPL) won 6 seats, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) won 9 seats.