Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn in as Assam Chief Minister in May 2021. Till 2015, Sarma was a part of the Congress and a young and ambitious leader considered close to then CM Tarun Gogoi. In 2011, Sarma manged the election campaign for the Congress, and helped it win an unprecedented 79 seats in the 126-member Assam assembly. However, with Tarun Gogoi projecting his son Gaurav as the face of Assam’s Congress leadership, he quit.
In 2015, Sarma joined the BJP and quickly rose to prominence becoming finance minister in the Sarbananda Sonowal government, then convener of the North East Development Alliance (NEDA). He has been credited as the man behind the BJP’s increased foothold in the Northeast.
As Assam Chief Minister, Sarma — though an ‘outsider — has steered many policies seemingly aligned with the Sangh agenda, including the passage of the Assam Cattle Preservation (Amendment) Act, asking for the reverification of the National Register of Citizens and carrying out demolition drives to evict “illegal encroachers”.
A number of important constitutional cases remain pending in the Supreme Court. Including the validity of the Citizenship Amendment Act. More particularly the point whether religion can be the criterion for grant of citizenship in a secular state. They merit urgent disposal.