Himanta Biswa Sarma resigned as Assam Chief Minister on May 10, 2024, following his election as a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency. The resignation was submitted to Governor Gulab Chand Kataria.
Sarma won the Nagaon seat with a significant margin, securing 68.72% of the vote share, defeating Congress candidate Pradyut Bordoloi by over 10 lakh votes. This victory marked a substantial increase in the BJP’s vote share in the region.
The BJP has nominated Jayanta Malla Baruah, the current Minister of Irrigation, as the next Chief Minister of Assam. Baruah’s name was proposed by several BJP MLAs and formally announced after a legislative party meeting. He will be sworn in on May 12, 2024.
Sarma’s resignation triggers a by-election in the Jalukbari Assembly constituency, which he has represented since 2001. The BJP is expected to announce a candidate for this by-poll shortly.
The decision to appoint Baruah as Chief Minister reflects the party’s strategy to maintain continuity and stability in the state government. He has previously served as an MLA from Nalbari and has held various ministerial portfolios.
Sarma’s move to national politics is seen as a step towards a larger role within the BJP at the central level. He is considered a key strategist for the party in the Northeast and his parliamentary experience is expected to be valuable.
The transition is expected to be smooth, with Sarma assuring full cooperation to the new Chief Minister and the state government. He emphasized the importance of continuing the development initiatives undertaken during his tenure. The BJP currently holds a comfortable majority in the Assam Legislative Assembly.
