Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma submits resignation, new oath likely after May 11

Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday resigned as Assam Chief Minister along with his council of ministers following the BJP-led NDA’s victory in the Assembly elections. Sarma submitted his resignation to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at Lok Bhawan in Guwahati. The Governor accepted the resignation and requested Sarma to continue as caretaker Chief Minister until the formation of the new government.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance secured 102 seats in the 126-member Assam Legislative Assembly, crossing the majority mark comfortably. Polling for the Assembly elections was conducted in a single phase on April 9, while counting of votes took place on May 4. The BJP won 82 seats, while its allies, the Bodoland People’s Front and the Asom Gana Parishad, secured 10 seats each.

Speaking after submitting his resignation, Sarma stated that the oath-taking ceremony for the new government is likely to take place after May 11. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been invited to attend the ceremony and that the Prime Minister’s Office indicated Modi would be available only after May 11. Sarma also said the BJP had appointed J. P. Nadda as central observer and Nayab Singh Saini as co-observer for the selection of the BJP legislature party leader in Assam.

According to Sarma, the BJP legislature party meeting will be held before May 11 in the presence of the central observers. After the legislature party elects its leader, NDA allies will formally endorse the name before staking claim to form the next government in Assam. Sarma said the decision regarding the next Chief Minister would be taken after the completion of the party’s internal process.

When asked about the composition of the next cabinet, Sarma said the decision regarding induction of new ministers would be taken by the incoming Chief Minister after the legislature party leader is chosen. Accompanied by cabinet colleague Ranoj Pegu and MLA Manab Deka, Sarma stated that the BJP and NDA would return to Lok Bhawan to formally stake claim for government formation after the leadership process concludes.