Guwahati: Assam governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya on Sunday invited Himanta Biswa Sarma to form the new government after NDA staked its claim with the support of 102 MLAs in the 126-member state assembly.Sarma, accompanied by BJP-appointed central observer JP Nadda, co-observer and Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini, senior leaders of state BJP, and alliance partners AGP and BPF, met the governor at Lok Bhavan along with NDA leaders and submitted the list of supporting legislators on Sunday.“The governor has invited Himanta Biswa Sarma to form the new government in Assam,” stated a media release from Lok Bhavan, Guwahati. The Governor will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Sarma as CM and to members of council of ministers at the Khanapara Veterinary College playground on Tuesday, where about one lakh people are expected to attend.Nadda said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, defense minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president Nitin Nabin, and other senior leaders will attend the swearing-in ceremony.In the 126-member assembly, NDA alliance comprises 82 BJP MLAs, 10 AGP MLAs, and 10 BPF MLAs.Leaders of the NDA, along with CM-designate Sarma, also discussed matters related to the formation of the government with governor Acharya. This will be the third consecutive NDA govt in Assam and the second headed by Sarma as CM. BJP and its allies first made history in 2016 by forming the state’s first BJP-led govt, ending the 15-year Congress rule under Tarun Gogoi.Earlier in the day, Sarma was unanimously elected leader of BJP legislature party, with AGP and BPF MLAs also backing him as their leader in the House. Nadda, Nayab Singh Saini, and senior party leaders, including Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia, attended the meeting at Vajpayee Bhawan. Sarma was also elected leader of NDA legislature party in Assam.The announcement of Sarma’s name was made by Nadda after the meeting of newly elected NDA legislators.Addressing the meeting, Nadda said eight resolutions proposing Sarma’s name were moved by senior party leaders, including Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Biswajit Daimary, Ajanta Neog, Rameswar Teli, Rajdeep Roy, Ashok Singhal, Pijush Hazarika, and Chakradhar Gogoi.He added that MLAs from BJP and its allies AGP and BPF were present to elect their leader. Nadda said AGP president Atul Bora and BPF leader Rihan Daimary also supported the proposal.The central observer said, “All members of NDA unanimously backed Sarma as the leader of NDA legislature party.”Lauding the previous govt led by Sarma for effectively implementing various central schemes and policies, Nadda said, “The result of the recently concluded assembly elections is a testimony to the endorsement of PM Modi’s policies. Assam is progressing with PM’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, implemented on the ground by Sarma. We will have a govt that is proactive, responsive, accountable, and report card-driven.“Speaking after his election, Sarma said, “PM Narendra Modi has blessed us to form the govt in Assam for a third consecutive term. I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister. The people have blessed us, and we will carry out development work over the next five years.” He also thanked Amit Shah and Nitin Nabin.Sarma announced that NDA council of ministers will take oath on May 12 in the presence of the PM. “I request the people of Assam to continue blessing us in the future as well. We aim to take Assam forward and make it one of the most developed states in the country. I express my gratitude to Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia,” he said.Sarma also expressed gratitude to JP Nadda and Nayab Singh Saini on behalf of the people of Assam.After being chosen as NDA legislature party leader and staking claim to form the new govt, Sarma accompanied Nadda and Saini to Kamakhya Temple to offer prayers.
