Assam CM Sarma has no regard for democracy, says opposition leader

With Assam chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma stating the role of MLAs is to make legislations and ministers will implement the same, leader of opposition Debabrata Saikia said that Sarma has showed that he has no regard for democracy.

Speaking at a function in Sarbhog assembly, which was won by CPI(M) in the recently held assembly election Sarma said Government officers will listen to the ministers as long as he is the chief minister. Role of an MLA is confined to framing laws, while it is the duty of the ministers to implement them.

Saikia said he has no regard for democracy when he said that constituencies with opposition MLAs would be solely run by the minister.


“In a parliamentary democracy, the role of ruling and opposition is important and an MLA has an obligation to look after his constituency, apart from carrying out his official role. The ministers are responsible for carrying out the work of their departments efficiently and the officials are entrusted with the task of implementing government policies. The Constitution does not mention anywhere that ruling party ministers can usurp the powers of the opposition MLAs. By saying such unconstitutional things, it is being sought to demean the position of Assembly members,” Saikia attacked.

Saikia said, “We all know that the primary responsibility of MLAs is to make laws, still MLAs of both ruling and opposition parties are bound to work for development of their respective constituencies in a neutral way, in accordance with established precedent. For this, there is also a system of committees of different departments at the district and constituency level where the chairman is the local MLA, not the central minister, whether he belongs to ruling or opposition party. Similarly, there are oversight committees at the ‘mahkuma’ or subdivision level, as laid down in the Constitution.

He said that the comment from the Chief Minister is frivolous and does not become that of an educated man with a degree in law.