Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma elected NDA leader, set to return as chief minister

Himanta Biswa Sarma was elected as the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led led National Democratic Alliance in the Assam Assembly on Sunday, paving the way for him to become the Chief Minister for the second consecutive term in the state.

Eight BJP legislators proposed the name of Sarma as its legislature party leader, PTI quoted party leader JP Nadda as saying. The BJP legislature party had held a meeting in Guwahati in the presence of central observer Nadda and co-observer Nayab Singh Saini.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won the Assembly elections, bagging 102 seats in the 126-member Assembly. The Congress-led bloc won 21 constituencies.

The BJP won 82 seats, while Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People’s Front secured 10 seats each.

Sarma had submitted his resignation to the governor on Wednesday.

On Sunday, Sarma said that the oath-taking ceremony will take place on Tuesday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to attend.

Written by Sara Varghese. Edited by Tanya Shrivastava

Also read:

• Behind saffron sweep in Assam: Hindu consolidation, welfare and Himanta
• How delimitation gave a boost to BJP and allies in Assam

Read more