Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday submitted his resignation to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, paving the way for the formation of a BJP government in the state.
He was accompanied by Education Minister of the current government Ranoj Biju who won from Dhemaji and Lakhimpur MLA Manab Deka.
He told reporters, “I submitted my resignation to the governor and asked to dissolve the current council. He accepted my request and asked me to continue as head of the caretaker government until the new government is sworn in.”
“The newly elected BJP MLAs will meet soon to choose a leader for the legislative party. Once this is done, the BJP and its allies, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) will meet again with the governor to demand formation of the government,” he added.
While there is no official confirmation on when the swearing-in ceremony of the new government will take place, BJP office bearers have indicated that it may also happen on May 12 after the swearing-in of the first BJP government in West Bengal on Saturday.
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“Since this was a historic win for the BJP and our allies, we want Prime Minister Narendra Modiji to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government. But we have been informed that the Prime Minister will be busy till May 11, so the event will take place only after that date,” Sarma said.
The office bearers also stated that the function will be held at Khanapara in Guwahati and is expected to be attended by several BJP leaders including Prime Minister Modi and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states in the Northeast.
On Monday, the BJP secured an absolute majority in the 126-member assembly by winning 82 seats, while its two alliance partners, AGP and BPF, bagged ten seats each taking their total to 102 seats.
The BJP had on Tuesday appointed Union minister and former national president of the party JP Nadda as central observer to elect the party’s new legislative leader. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini as co-observer of the process.
The two leaders are expected to arrive in Guwahati either on Wednesday or Thursday, after which a meeting of all newly elected BJP members will be held to choose their leader to head the next government.
Sarma took office as Chief Minister on May 10, 2021 as the second successive head of the BJP-led government in Assam after his predecessor Sarbananda Sonowal completed his five-year term.
