Guwahati: Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya on Sunday invited Himanta Biswa Sarma to form the new government after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) staked its claim with the support of 102 MLAs in the 126-member state assembly.
NDA Delegation Meets Governor
Sarma, accompanied by BJP-appointed central observer JP Nadda, co-observer and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, senior leaders of the state BJP, and alliance partners Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People's Front (BPF), met the Governor at Lok Bhavan along with NDA leaders and submitted the list of supporting legislators on Sunday.
“The Governor has invited Himanta Biswa Sarma to form the new government in Assam,” stated a media release from Lok Bhavan, Guwahati. The Governor will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Sarma as Chief Minister and to members of the council of ministers at the Khanapara Veterinary College playground on Tuesday, where about one lakh people are expected to attend.
Senior Leaders to Attend Ceremony
Nadda said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP President Nitin Nabin, and other senior leaders will attend the swearing-in ceremony.
In the 126-member assembly, the NDA alliance comprises 82 BJP MLAs, 10 AGP MLAs, and 10 BPF MLAs. Leaders of the NDA, along with Chief Minister-designate Sarma, also discussed matters related to the formation of the government with Governor Acharya. This will be the third consecutive NDA government in Assam and the second headed by Sarma as Chief Minister. The BJP and its allies first made history in 2016 by forming the state’s first BJP-led government, ending the 15-year Congress rule under Tarun Gogoi.
Sarma Elected Leader of NDA Legislature Party
Earlier in the day, Sarma was unanimously elected leader of the BJP legislature party, with AGP and BPF MLAs also backing him as their leader in the House. Nadda, Nayab Singh Saini, and senior party leaders, including Assam BJP President Dilip Saikia, attended the meeting at Vajpayee Bhawan. Sarma was also elected leader of the NDA legislature party in Assam. The announcement of Sarma’s name was made by Nadda after the meeting of newly elected NDA legislators.
Addressing the meeting, Nadda said eight resolutions proposing Sarma’s name were moved by senior party leaders, including Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Biswajit Daimary, Ajanta Neog, Rameswar Teli, Rajdeep Roy, Ashok Singhal, Pijush Hazarika, and Chakradhar Gogoi. He added that MLAs from the BJP and its allies AGP and BPF were present to elect their leader. Nadda said AGP President Atul Bora and BPF leader Rihan Daimary also supported the proposal.
The central observer said, “All members of the NDA unanimously backed Sarma as the leader of the NDA legislature party.”
Nadda Lauds Previous Government
Lauding the previous government led by Sarma for effectively implementing various central schemes and policies, Nadda said, “The result of the recently concluded assembly elections is a testimony to the endorsement of Prime Minister Modi’s policies. Assam is progressing with the PM’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, implemented on the ground by Sarma. We will have a government that is proactive, responsive, accountable, and report card-driven.”
Speaking after his election, Sarma said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has blessed us to form the government in Assam for a third consecutive term. I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister. The people have blessed us, and we will carry out development work over the next five years.” He also thanked Amit Shah and Nitin Nabin.
Oath Ceremony on May 12
Sarma announced that the NDA council of ministers will take oath on May 12 in the presence of the Prime Minister. “I request the people of Assam to continue blessing us in the future as well. We aim to take Assam forward and make it one of the most developed states in the country. I express my gratitude to Assam BJP President Dilip Saikia,” he said.
Sarma also expressed gratitude to JP Nadda and Nayab Singh Saini on behalf of the people of Assam. After being chosen as NDA legislature party leader and staking claim to form the new government, Sarma accompanied Nadda and Saini to the Kamakhya Temple to offer prayers.
