Sarbananda Sonowal congratulates Himanta Biswa Sarma; affirms faith in Assam CM-elect

Outgoing Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday congratulated CM-designate Himanta Biswa Sarma on being unanimously elected as leer of BJP Legislative Party. Sonowal affirmed faith that Sarma will carry forward development journey of Assam that duo began under leership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016.

Ending seven days of speculations, Sarma on Sunday was unanimously elected as leer of BJP Legislature Party and NDA Legislature Party, clearing stage for him to become chief minister of only non-Congress government returning to power in state for second consecutive term.

CM Sonowal and or BJP leers proposed Sarma as ir CM pick. 51-year-old Jalukbari MLA will take oath tomorrow as 15th Chief Minister of Assam. He will continue to be convenor of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), NDA's version in region.

On Saturday, both Sonowal and Sarma h met BJP national president JP Nda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi to discuss leership issue of next government. BJP leership was facing a tough choice over appointment of new Chief Minister of Assam – only state where party registered a convincing victory in recently concluded assembly elections.

Opposition congratulates Sarma

opposition Congress and All-India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) also conveyed ir greetings to CM-elect of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma and hoped that it will become one of most developed states of country under his tenure.

"Many congratulations to @himantabiswa on being elected as next Chief Minister of Assam. Our only vision must be to work in tandem to make Assam one of most developed states of India. Best wishes!" Assam Congress chief Ripun Bora tweeted.

AIUDF chief Bruddin Ajmal also congratulated convenor of North NEDA on being elected as BJP's Legislative Party leer. "I hope Dr Sharma with his experience and dedication will pull out Assam from critical juncture it is at. I wish him a successful tenure (sic)," Lok Sabha MP said in a Twitter post.

Out of 126 Assembly seats in Assam, ruling alliance has secured 75 seats. BJP has won 60 seats, while its alliance partners, Asom Gana Parish (AGP) and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) got nine and six seats respectively.

(With inputs from agency)