Himanta Biswa Sarma named new Chief Minister of Assam

GUWAHATI:

BJP's Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday was named the new chief minister of Assam, ending a week long deliberation of the party's central leadership, which finally decided on the position on Saturday after meeting Sarma and Sarbananda Sonowal.

Outgoing CM Sarbananda Sonowal, who is most likely to be called for working with the central leadership in Delhi, submitted his resignation early morning to Assam's Governor Jagdish Mukhi.

The decision for the post of the chief minister comes after both Sonowal and Himanta were summoned to Delhi to meet Home Minister Amit Shah, party President JP Nadda and party General Secretary BL Santhosh. 

Himanta, fondly called 'Mama' by his supporters, was elected as a BJP MLA in 2016 following his departure from Congress over internal differences with former CM Tarun Gogoi, ending his near 15 year association with the party.

As a BJP MLA, Himanta held a cabinet position in the state government and many other important portfolios in the state government, such as finance, planning and development, health and family welfare, education, and PWD.

He was the face of Assam government during the state's battle against COVID-19 last year.

Himanta, who has won from the Jalukbari constituency for five times in a row, is also the convenor of BJP’s North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA).

(Edited by Anirban Paul)

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