Himanta Biswa Sarma resigns as congress MLA, ready to seek fresh mandate

GUWAHATI: Himanta Biswa Sarma, the dissident Assam Congress leader who joined the BJP, formally resigned from the membership of the state assembly. Sarma appeared before Speaker Pranab Gogoi on Tuesday and offered his resignation.

“Following the best tradition of democracy, I have resigned from my seat in Assam legislative assembly,” Sarma said. The former minister said he is ready to seek a fresh mandate from Jalukbari constituency if the BJP leadership gives him the ticket.

Assembly elections in Assam are expected to be held early next year.

Sarma contested from Jalukbari assembly constituency in Guwahati first in 2001 and has never lost the seat since.

Nine legislators belonging to Sarma’s camp recently met BJP President Amit Shah in New Delhi. However, there is no confirmation on when they would be inducted into the saffron party.

But Sarma said a decision was expected after Durga puja (after October 22).