Himanta Biswa Sarma
Chief Minister, Assam- An alumnus of Guwahati's prestigious Cotton College (now Cotton University), Himanta Biswa Sarma completed his post-graduation in political science from the institution
- From his early days in college, he was involved in student politics. He was the general secretary of the Cotton College Union Society from 1991 to 1992. After his master’s, he attended Government Law College in Guwahati from where he obtained an LLB degree. Sarma practised law till 2001
- In the early 1980s, he took part in the anti-foreigner's stir in Assam, along with All Assam Students' Union (AASU) leaders Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and Bhrigu Kumar Phukan. His activities were noticed by then Congress chief minister Hiteswar Saikia, who mentored him
- In 1996, he first contested from the Jalukbari Assembly constituency on a Congress ticket but lost to his mentor Bhrigu Phukan before bouncing back five years later
- The then chief minister Tarun Gogoi appointed the debutant MLA as a minister for agriculture, planning and development. Sarma became Gogoi’s main troubleshooter
- He was the main campaigner for the 2011 Assembly elections and was a cabinet minister in Gogoi's second term, when he emerged as a de facto CM
- In spite of an anti-incumbency wave in 2011, Gogoi came back to power for a third consecutive term with the help of Sarma's political skills and acumen, for which he was rewarded with plum portfolios
- With the success, an ambitious Sarma started eyeing the chief minister's post and even camped in Delhi to lobby with the party's top leadership. This led to a wide rift within the Assam Congress and he was sidelined in the party
- In 2015, he resigned from all government posts, the Congress and also as an MLA. Within a few months, he was welcomed to the BJP by then party president Amit Shah and made the Convenor of Assam BJP's Election Management Committee
- Sarma, along with then BJP state president Sarbananda Sonowal, scripted history when the party won the 2016 Assembly elections. The duo was responsible for routing the Congress and establishing the first BJP government in Assam
- Apart from holding key portfolios, like health and finance, in the Sonowal ministry, he was made the convenor of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), the NDA's coalition in the region. Sarma was tasked to ensure similar victories in other North Eastern states
- He came out with flying colours over the next five years and became the blue-eyed boy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, NDA won 19 seats out of 25 in the Northeast
- In the 2021 Assembly polls, he retained the Jalukbari seat and beat his nearest rival by over 1 lakh votes. Top leadership of the BJP appointed him as the head of the party in Assam and on May 10, he was sworn-in as the 15th Chief Minister of the state
- Under his leadership, the Assam government introduced policies such as Ethanol Production Promotion and Wildlife Conservation
- When there were widespread protests in Assam against the Citizenship Amendment Act, Sarma took to the streets and toured every nook and corner of the state to espouse the cause of CAA
Before you go ...
- During the Covid-19 crisis, he received praise from several quarters for his successful handling of the pandemic in the state
- During campaigning for the Assembly polls, he received flak when he said there was no need to wear masks as there was no Covid in Assam
- In an effort to curb poaching and create awareness of the endangered one-horned Indian rhinoceros, Sarma burnt rhino horns, a coveted item among poachers
- In Assam and other North Eastern states, the youth call him Mama (Uncle)
Himanta Biswa Sarma News
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expanded his cabinet, inducting BPF MLA Charan Boro and bringing the Bodoland People's Front into the NDA. This alliance will see the BPF cede two Executive Member positions and the Deputy Speaker post to the BJP in the Bodoland Territorial Council.
Protests have erupted across Assam following singer Zubeen Garg's death in Singapore. Demonstrations are demanding a swift investigation into the incident. Clashes have occurred as authorities attempt to move accused individuals. The state has imposed prohibitory orders and suspended mobile internet services. The Chief Minister has accused groups of politicizing the death ahead of elections.
Assam's government is set to preserve its sacred Satra institutions with a new bill. Land rights will be granted to tea garden workers. A significant investment is approved for a new fertilizer plant, promising jobs and economic growth. The Prime Minister is expected to lay the foundation stone for the project soon.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has asked citizens to be patient and trust the judicial process in the Zubeen Garg death investigation. He warned against politicizing the issue, stating that certain groups are creating unrest for personal gain. The Chief Minister highlighted that justice takes time and cited historical examples. An investigation is also underway in Singapore.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the CID has a "definite angle" in singer Zubeen Garg's death case following the receipt of the viscera report from Delhi. Four more Assamese expats who reportedly witnessed Garg's final moments are expected to arrive and provide statements to the CID.
Assam Police DSP Sandipan Garg was arrested in connection with singer Zubeen Garg's death in Singapore, bringing the total arrests to five. The singer's two personal security officers were also suspended due to significant financial irregularities discovered in their accounts. The investigation is ongoing, with chargesheets expected within three months.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has voiced support for the genuine demand for Scheduled Tribe status by several communities. Protests are ongoing in Tinsukia, with thousands of Adivasis and tea-garden workers demanding ST status, land rights, and wage hikes. The movement vows to continue until concrete action is taken, emphasizing a fight for dignity and identity.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described a Special Investigation Team (SIT) report on alleged links between Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi's family and Pakistan as "damaging." The report, discussed in a cabinet meeting, reportedly unearths a conspiracy involving a British national married to an MP and Pakistan's Ministry of Interior facilitating an Assam MP's visit to the country.
The Assam government has launched the 'Shraddhanjali' scheme. This initiative ensures a dignified return for Assamese students and workers who die outside the state. The scheme aims to ease the financial burden on grieving families. A designated police officer will facilitate the body's repatriation. This comes after recent tragic incidents involving migrant workers.
Hagrama Mohilary, president of the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), was formally sworn in as the chief executive member of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) amidst heavy rain. His party secured 28 seats in the recent elections, marking a significant political shift. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma pledged the Assam government's full support for development and peace in the region.
