BJP top brass divided over Assam's next CM

Some BJP leaders in Assam are trying to exert the top brass for a change of guard and to make Himanta Biswa Sarma the next CM. However, the party also feels that removing Sarbanand Sonowal from the top seat might affect the vote bank in upper Assam.

Guwahati: Bharatiya Janata Party's top leaders in New Delhi seem to be divided over who should be the next Chief Minister of Assam.

The party's parliamentary board has failed to achieve consensus over the next chief minister of the state despite a stupendous victory in the polls.

Read:|New Assam CM expected to take office on Friday

It is worth mentioning that state health and finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had left Congress and joined BJP as he was only the second choice for the top seat in the Congress.

Sources in the BJP said that the then party president Amit Shah had assured backing for Sarma as Chief Ministerial candidate in 2021. However, Shah had not discussed it with other leaders in the party. But now after the party's humiliating defeat in West Bengal polls, Shah is not in a position to take up the issue on the floor of the party.

Back in Assam, party president Ranjit Kumar Das and some BJP leaders are reportedly trying to exert the top brass for a change of guard and to make Sarma the next CM. However, the majority of the legislators in Upper Assam have rallied behind incumbent Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal.

Read:|BJP yet to decide on next Assam chief minister

The party also feels that removing Sonowal from the top post, particularly without any valid reason, might affect the vote bank in upper Assam.

Sources have informed that some of the top leaders of the BJP will reach Assam on Friday evening.

However, naming the next CM of Assam will sure take some more time.

Read:|Assam's jailed activist Akhil Gogoi creates history; pips BJP, Congress on debut