Guwahati, 10 May (HS): Assam BJP president and MP Dilip Saikia extended his congratulations to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma after he was unanimously elected as the leader of the BJP Legislature Party and the NDA alliance for a second consecutive term in Assam.

At a meeting held on Sunday at the BJP state headquarters, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Bhawan in Guwahati, 102 MLAs elected with the support of the BJP-led NDA alliance unanimously nominated Dr Sarma as the leader of the legislature party. Leaders and representatives of alliance partners, including the Asom Gana Parishad, Bodoland People’s Front, Rabha Hasong Joint Forum and other regional parties, attended the meeting.

The meeting was observed by Union Minister and BJP national president JP Nadda and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who attended as the party’s central observers. Senior BJP leaders, including Assam BJP in-charge Harish Dwivedi, organisational general secretary GR Ravindra Raju, AGP president Atul Bora and BTC deputy chief executive member Rehan Daimary, were also present.

In a press statement issued from the party headquarters, Saikia said the people of Assam have once again expressed their confidence in the leadership of Dr Sarma and the NDA government. He expressed hope that under Dr Sarma’s leadership, Assam would witness stronger and more inclusive development over the next five years.

Following the NDA legislature party meeting, Dr Sarma met Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at Raj Bhavan and formally staked claim to form the new government in the state.

The swearing-in ceremony of the new government will be held on May 12 at 11 am at the Khanapara Veterinary College playground in Guwahati. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the ceremony along with several Union ministers and chief ministers and deputy chief ministers from 22 BJP and NDA-ruled states.

With the oath-taking ceremony, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma will become the fourth person in Assam’s political history to take oath as Chief Minister for a second consecutive term. BJP leaders described the development as a reflection of public confidence in the NDA government’s development agenda since 2016.

Saikia also thanked the people of Assam for giving the NDA a decisive mandate with 102 seats and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for their guidance and support in strengthening the NDA in Assam.

The Assam BJP further informed that RSS functionaries, BJP booth presidents, elected panchayat representatives, office-bearers of autonomous councils, chairpersons of various boards and corporations and party workers from different morchas and cells will also attend the swearing-in ceremony.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash