Himanta Biswa Sarma will succeed Sarbananda Sonowal as the Chief Minister of Assam, BJP sources have said. At the legislature party meeting held in Guwahati today, Mr Sonowal had proposed the name of Mr Sarma after Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his approval for Mr Sarma’s elevation.
Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar and party General Secretary Arun Singh were present as central observers at the BJP Legislature Party meet. Baijayant Panda, BJP’s Assam in-charge was also present on the occasion.
Earlier on Sunday, Sarbananda Sonowal tendered his resignation to Governor Jagadish Mukhi prior to a meeting of the BJP Legislature Party which is expected to elect the next Chief Minister of the state, Raj Bhawan sources said. As is the tradition, the Governor asked Sonowal to continue in office till the formation of the new government.
Later in the day, around 4 pm, the BJP unit of Assam will meet Governor Mukhi to stake claim to form the government. In the results announced for the 126-member Assam Assembly last Sunday, the BJP won 60 seats while its alliance partners AGP got nine seats and UPPL six. The swearing-in ceremony of the new chief minister will take place on Monday. BJP national president J P Nadda will be be present at the the oath-taking event.
