The BJP has managed to retain power in Assam for the third time in a row in the recently concluded Assembly elections in the state.
The party secured an absolute majority, winning 82 of the 126 seats in the Assam Assembly. With the success of the party’s election campaign, all eyes are now on the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate in the state.
While Himanta Biswa Sarma seems to be the front-runner for the post, other names have also been backed as the swearing-in approaches. Sarma has a strong chance of becoming chief minister again, given his key role in the BJP’s election campaign in the state and its subsequent landslide victory. However, there are slim chances that the party will opt for change this time.
The BJP’s history of surprises and choosing unexpected names for the job has created uncertainty.
Sarma submitted his resignation to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya on Wednesday, paving the way for a new BJP government in Assam. The swearing-in is likely to take place on May 12, with Sarma saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi may be present.
“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,” he said. He added that the new prime minister will be chosen at a meeting of the BJP legislature in the presence of central observers
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Who are the main candidates?
📌 Himanta Biswa Sarmawho led the party from the front and campaigned extensively across Assam in the run-up to the polls.
Moreover, his government’s development policies and beneficiary schemes have also struck a chord with the people of the state, according to an earlier HT report. Sarma won by a huge margin of over 89,000 votes in Jaklokbari.
📌 Ajanta Neogwho has now won six times from Golaghat constituency, may also be considered for her nomination in the party.
She is the Minister of Finance, Women and Child Development in the Sarma government. She holds MA, LLB and LLM degrees from Gauhati University and in the past has practiced law as an advocate in the Gauhati High Court. She won the Golaghat seat again this time by a margin of 43,759 votes, defeating Congress’ Bituban Saikia.
Read also | ‘Brahmaputra, Kamakhya, Bhupen Hazarika’: What Modi said after BJP’s third victory in Assam
📌Ranjit Kumar DasThe choice may be between another senior BJP leader and the former Assembly Speaker as well. Das won the Bhowanipur-Surbhuj constituency. Das had earlier represented the Bhattacharkochi seat in the outgoing Assembly.
As the boundaries and nomenclature of his constituency changed during delimitation, this time he contested against CPI(M)’s Manoranjan Talukdar, who is the incumbent MLA from Sorbhog. Das won by 39,152 votes.
📌 Biswajit Daimarythe current Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly, is also among the well-known names in state politics. Daimary won the Tamulpur seat by a margin of over 29,000 votes against United People’s Party (Liberal) candidate Pramod Boro.
Demary represents Baniri in the current assembly, which was abolished during the demarcation process. He may be Deputy Chief Minister of Assam.
