I am not interested in contesting polls: Himanta Biswa Sarma

GUWAHATI: BJP’s key man in northeast and Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday moved from being unsure a week back to certainty that he was “not interested in contesting next assembly election” to be held early 2021.
Sarma made the big announcement on twitter on Tuesday evening, which coincided with the arrival of BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh in the city.
Sarma tweeted, “As I have already indicated in several public platform that I am not interested in contesting next assembly election, my role will be limited to contribute whatever I can for my party and for my state. For Assam future we need to have a strong nationalist govt.”
Exactly a week back Sarma had said that he was not sure if would contest the assembly polls in 2021 and the final call will be taken by his “family and party.”
Sarma’s first tweet on the day was, “Few people feel that I am after some post and position. My only ambition is to see a BJP GOVT with 100+ seats. In my last few months, I want to work for my state as much as possible to have eternal satisfaction. Janani Janmabhumishcha Swargadapi Gariyasi” (Mother and motherland are superior even to Heaven.)
Sarma’s announcement has not only sent his followers on twitter into vociferous protests, it has also pushed the party leaders and workers into a guessing game.
“We do not know what he means,” was a reply from one of the top party leaders on condition of anonymity.
On August 18 during an interaction with media Sarma had said, “Who knows if I contest the election at all this time? I don’t know the answer myself. I am busy serving the people of Assam since March (leading the fight against Covid-19 pandemic) and I am moving towards the finishing line. First it has be decided if at all I will contest the election by my party and my family. It is a long, long process and it has not started yet.”
Few weeks back a controversy stirred up after minister of state for health Pijush Hazarika and close aide of Sarma said that Sarma has all the capabilities to become chief minister. In response Sarma and State BJP president Ranjit Kumar Dass maintained that 3.30 Crore people of Assam have the capacity to become chief minister of Assam.
Sarma switched sides from Congress and joined BJP in 2015 just a year ahead of last assembly election and scripted BJP’s win in Assam. He was instrumental in party’s victories in subsequent elections in some other northeastern states.
Sarma had left AASU and joined in Congress during the tenure of former chief minister Hiteswar Saikia and contested his first election from Jalukbari assembly constituency in 1996, which he lost to AASU stalwart Bhrigu Kumar Phukan. Five years later Sarma won Jalukbari defeating Phukan and since then has not looked back.