JOIN USIf people love me, I have no tension: Himanta Sarma on BJP's pick for CM in Assam
Bharatiya Janata Party's Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that is not concerned about who is chosen to be Assam's chief minister, but only values people's love for him.
Calling himself part of "Narendra Modi's army", Sarma said the BJP will handle the CM post. "My closeness with the people of Assam is extremely high. You stay here for two days and then you will understand. If people keep loving me like this, then I have no tension. People know that I will do what I have to do, they trust me a lot," he told NDTV in an interview.
Assam kicked off the Assembly elections with over 70 per cent of the voters coming out to exercise their franchise on March 27. The ruling BJP is yet to announce its chief ministerial candidate, a decision which has led to speculation that it could be senior leader Himanta Biswa Sarma instead of CM Sarbananda Sonowal.
Both leaders have asserted their commitment to the party, saying they would trust the seniors' decisions.
Sarma, the BJP's most valuable resource in the northeastern region, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the senior leadership of the party will take a call on the CM post, and it was not his concern.
Earlier, Sarma had also said that he would trust PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah's decision if it's him, CM Sonowal, or a third person.
"Any lobbying before the PM and Amit bhai has no value. They know everyone and have everyone's horoscope. If they feel Himanta Biswa Sarma is the right man for Assam, they will give it to me, if they feel Sarbananda Sonowal is the right man, they will give it to him, or if they feel both of them are not good, let's bring another person... So tell me if it is any good even if I or Sarbananda Sonowal keep thinking about or give thousands of press interviews," Sarma said.
CM Sonowal has downplayed the speculation, saying that the state government worked like "Team Assam" in the past five years and its only goal right now is to win the polls.
The next two phases of the state elections will be held on April 1 and April 6, with the results coming out on May 2.