BJP rewards Assam mantri, says pick any Lok Sabha seat in India
Prabin Kalita | TNN | Mar 16, 2019, 08:19 IST
Himanta Biswa SarmaGUWAHATI: As a reward for his role in expanding BJP’s influence in the northeast, especially Assam, the party’s national leadership has asked Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to choose a seat anywhere in the country to fight the Lok Sabha election.
“When our national leadership conveyed to me the party wants Himanta to fight the Lok Sabha election and can choose any constituency, I immediately replied it was a great decision but requested Assam be given priority over other states before finalising the constituency for him,” said state BJP president Ranjeet Dass.
A BJP source said, “Himanta’s candidature for Tezpur constituency is final and it is only a matter of making a formal announcement by Amit Shah on Saturday.” However, not everyone is happy. Incumbent MP from Tezpur, Ram Prasad Sarmah, has threatened to quit BJP if denied a ticket. Sarmah had wrested the seat from AGP in 2014. Himanta, who represents Jalukbari in the assembly, has never contested a Lok Sabha election.
“When our national leadership conveyed to me the party wants Himanta to fight the Lok Sabha election and can choose any constituency, I immediately replied it was a great decision but requested Assam be given priority over other states before finalising the constituency for him,” said state BJP president Ranjeet Dass.
A BJP source said, “Himanta’s candidature for Tezpur constituency is final and it is only a matter of making a formal announcement by Amit Shah on Saturday.” However, not everyone is happy. Incumbent MP from Tezpur, Ram Prasad Sarmah, has threatened to quit BJP if denied a ticket. Sarmah had wrested the seat from AGP in 2014. Himanta, who represents Jalukbari in the assembly, has never contested a Lok Sabha election.
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