Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma are meeting with party chief JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Saturday, as suspense builds over the identity of the state’s new Chief Minister.
Mr Sarma, who is the Health Minister and the BJP’s troubleshooter in the northeast, was the first to reach Mr Nadda’s residence. Sources told news agency PTI the two were joined by BJP General Secretary BL Santhosh and, later, Amit Shah. Their meeting lasted for an hour, after which he left.
Sarbananda Sonowal, the current chief minister, arrived shortly afterwards for his meeting.
Following the individual meetings, the party leadership held a joint meeting with the two leaders.
Both Mr Sonowal and Mr Sarma were summoned for face-to-face talks to discuss the leadership issue; the party is keen to avoid factionalism, as a result of its choice, in Assam, sources said.
Mr Sonowal, who belongs to Assam’s indigenous Sonowal-Kachari tribe, has a good image and Mr Sarma is an influential leader, as well as the convenor of the North East Democratic Alliance.
Choosing between Sarbananda Sonowal and Himanta Sarma will be a tough choice for the BJP.
