Sarma takes oath as Assam CM, invites ULFA (I) for peace talks

GUWAHATI, May 10
Himanta Biswa Sarma Monday took oath as the 15th Chief Minister of Assam. Governor Jagadish Mukhi administered the oath.
After the oath-taking ceremony, Sarma said he aimed to make Assam one of the top five Indian States in five years. He also appealed the ULFA(I) chief Paresh Barua to abjure violence, come to the discussion table
Sarma, clad in traditional ‘pat silk’ dhoti and kurta with a muga ‘gamosa’ draped around his neck, took the oath of office and secrecy in Assamese. Along with him, 13 other legislators were also sworn-in as Ministers amid strict COVID-19 protocols.
Among the MLAs sworn-in, 10 from the BJP, including State party president Ranjeet Kumar Dass and Ministers of the outgoing Government Chandra Mohan Patowary, Parimal Suklabaidya, Jogesh Mohan and Sanjay Kishan. The new faces as Ministers were Ranoj Pegu, Bimal Borah and the only woman in the Cabinet, Ajanta Neog.
BJP president JP Nadda, outgoing Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Ministers Jitendra Singh and Ramesh Teli, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphu Rio and Assam Congress chief Ripun Bora were among those present at the swearing-in ceremony.
Sarma, 52, who held key portfolios in the previous Assam Government, including Finance, Health, and Education—succeeds Sarbananda Sonowal as the Chief Minister, garnering support from the 75 MLAs of the BJP-led alliance. He was elected as the leader of the newly-elected MLAs of the party on Sunday.
In the last five years, Sarma has implemented some of the biggest development schemes in Assam. He has been the public face of the State Government battling Opposition on every contentious issue. As Health and Finance Minister, he has been leading the State’s efforts in fighting the Covid pandemic.
Sarma has been arguably the most influential politician in North Eastern India as of now and the BJP’s key man and troubleshooter in the region. He is the convenor of the NEDA (North-East Democratic Alliance), a BJP led alliance of the regional parties in NE.
Sarma has been actively involved in politics since his student life and had a 20-year association with the Congress.
In the 126-member Assembly, the NDA has won 75 seats and the Congress-led ‘Mahajot’, 50. Jailed activist Akhil Gogoi won the remaining seat.
The Indian Express