Himanta Biswa Sarma | |
---|---|
15th Chief Minister of Assam | |
Assumed office 10 May 2021 | |
Governor | Jagdish Mukhi Gulab Chand Kataria Lakshaman Acharya |
Preceded by | Sarbananda Sonowal |
Minister of the Government of Assam | |
In office 24 May 2016 –9 May 2021 | |
Chief Minister | Sarbananda Sonowal |
Ministry | Finance,Planning and Development,Health and Family Welfare,Education,Public Works,Government of Assam |
In office 2011–2014 | |
Chief Minister | Tarun Gogoi |
Ministry | Finance,Health &Family Welfare,Public Works,Transformation &Development,Government of Assam |
In office 2006–2011 | |
Chief Minister | Tarun Gogoi |
Ministry | Health and Family Welfare,Finance,Public Works,Culture,Government of Assam |
Minister of State of the Government of Assam | |
In office 1 September 2004 –June 2006 | |
Chief Minister | Tarun Gogoi |
Ministry | Finance,Planning and Development,Government of Assam |
In office 7 June 2002 –31 August 2004 | |
Chief Minister | Tarun Gogoi |
Ministry | Agriculture,Planning and Development,Government of Assam |
Member of the Assam Legislative Assembly | |
Assumed office 2001 | |
Preceded by | Bhrigu Kumar Phukan |
Constituency | Jalukbari |
Founder-Convener of the NEDA | |
Assumed office 2016 | |
Amit Shah J. P. Nadda | |
Personal details | |
Born | Jorhat,Assam,India | 1 February 1969
Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party (2015–present) |
Other political affiliations | Indian National Congress (1991–2015) |
Spouse | |
Children | 2 |
Alma mater | |
Profession |
|
Signature | |
Website | www |
Nickname | Himanta Mama |
Himanta Biswa Sarma (born 1 February 1969) is an Indian politician and lawyer serving as the 15th and current Chief Minister of Assam since 2021. A former member of the Indian National Congress, Sarma joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on 23 August 2015 and soon was made convenor of NEDA. [1] He is a five time Member of the Assam Legislative Assembly from Jalukbari, having been elected since 2001. [2] [3]
Sarma was born on 1 February 1969 in Jorhat, Assam, the family, including six siblings, later shifted to Ulubari, Gandhibasti in Guwahati. [3] [4] He belongs to an Assamese family which traces its origins to Latima in Nalbari district. [5] [6] Sarma married Riniki Bhuyan Sarma in 2001, with whom he has a son, Nandil Biswa Sarma, [7] who attended The Doon School, [8] and a daughter, Sukanya Sarma, who attended Mayo College Girls School. [9] [4]
Sarma was educated at Kamrup Academy School, Guwahati in 1985 and joined Cotton College, Guwahati (now known as Cotton University) for his undergraduate education. [10] He was elected the General Secretary of Cotton College Students Union, three times in 1988-89, 1989–90, and 1991-1992. [11] Sarma is the seventh chief minister of Assam from Cotton University. [12] [13]
He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in 1990 and Master of Arts in 1992, both in political science, from the university. [10] Thereafter, Sarma obtained a Bachelor of Laws from Government Law College, Guwahati, and became a solicitor in 1995. He practised law at the Gauhati High Court from 1996 to 2001. In 2006, he completed a Doctorate of Philosophy in political science from Gauhati University on the topic North Eastern Council:A structural and functional analysis, defending his dissertation shortly before he was elected to public office. [10] [4] [14]
Sarma was elected to the Assam Legislative Assembly from Jalukbari for the first time in 2001 when he defeated Asom Gana Parishad leader Bhrigu Kumar Phukan. He was re-elected in 2006, then in 2011 for a third consecutive term with a 78,000 vote margin. [15] [16] Sarma held important portfolios (both state and cabinet) as Minister of State for Agriculture, Planning and Development, Finance, Health, Education, and Assam Accord Implementation from 2002 to 2014. [15] [17]
He was made Cabinet Minister for Health in 2006, and in 2011 he was also entrusted with the additional charge of Education. [9] During his tenure, three medical colleges in Jorhat, Barpeta and Tezpur were built. [18] He also initiated work for five more medical colleges in Diphu, Nagaon, Dhubri, North Lakhimpur and Kokrajhar, which are now in various startup stages. [19]
After political disagreements with the former chief minister Tarun Gogoi, Sarma resigned from all positions on 21 July 2014. He was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Jalukbari constituency until his resignation from the Assembly on 15 September 2015. [4] [20] Sarma joined Bharatiya Janata Party on 23 August 2015 at the residence of Amit Shah at New Delhi. [21] He was appointed the party's Convener of the Election Management Committee for the upcoming Assembly Elections in the state. [22] In May 2016, Sarma won the Jalukbari constituency for the fourth consecutive term and was sworn in as Cabinet Minister on 24 May in Sonowal ministry, in the first BJP Government in North East India. He was allotted portfolios like Finance, Health & Family Welfare, Education, Planning & Development, Tourism, Pension & Public Grievances. [23]
On 23 April 2017, Sarma was unanimously elected as President of Badminton Association of India. Sarma has been the president of the Assam Badminton Association. He also became the president of the Assam Cricket Association in June 2016 when his party man Pradip Buragohain became the secretary. Sarma was also the longest-serving vice-president of the association serving from 2002 to 2016. [24] [25]
On 25 March 2022, Sarma was re-elected as the president of Badminton Association of India for a second term of four years from 2022 to 2026 in general body meeting in Guwahati. [26] [27]
On 8 May 2021, Sarma along with Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal were summoned to New Delhi, for discussions on the formation of a new government. Sarma and Sonowal held a series of meetings lasting more than 4 hours with BJP President J P Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah. On 9 May Sonowal tendered his resignation to Governor Jagadish Mukhi, ahead of a meeting the same day to decide the next Chief Minister. [28] [29] [30] [31] Sarma's name was proposed by the outgoing Sonowal, BJP state president Ranjeet Kumar Dass and newly elected MLA Nandita Garlosa. As no other name was presented to be chief minister, Sarma was unanimously elected as the BJP legislature leader. [32]
On 10 May 2021, Sarma was sworn in as the 15th Chief Minister of Assam by Governor Jagadish Mukhi, succeeding Sonowal. [33] [34] [35] [36] He was congratulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his appointment. [34]
Sarma urged the Muslim community to adopt decent family planning in June 2021. He also stressed the need for a new law against illegal cattle smuggling in Assam. [37] Mission Basundhara was launched under Sarma in 2021; it aims at helping residents with issues related to land and property. [38] Assam government under his leadership has announced decision of converting 740 Muslim madrasas funded by state to normal schools. [39]
His tenure experienced a rise in extrajudicial killings, which he has openly supported. [40] [41] [42] His government has demolished many[ quantify ] Islamic madrasas in the state, alleging its association with terrorist groups and organisations. [43]
On 26 July 2021 Assam Police and Mizoram Police (Mizoram is an adjacent state to Assam on its southern boundary) fired upon each other supposedly part of the decades-old Assam-Mizoram border dispute. Assam lost six police personnel and a civilian in the firefight, while one youth from Mizoram suffered a gunshot wound. Both sides charged each other with opening fire first.
Reports from news media indicate that on 24 July 2021, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Zoramthanga had a one-to-one talk about the boundary dispute where both agreed to settle the matter amicably through talks. Before this could take place, and only two days after the two Chief Ministers held their talks, this incident took place. [44]
Days after skirmish which left dozens of others injured, the Assam government on 29 July 2021 issued a travel advisory, asking people of the state not to travel to Mizoram - the first such travel advisory ever, by a state in the independent India. [45] Himanta retracted from this advisory a day later. [46] Further, Assam's Home and Political Department said on 29 July that the police should carry out an intensive drive against drugs and check all vehicles entering into Assam from Mizoram. [47]
In November 2020, Biswa posted on social media, claiming that supporters of AIUDF Chief and Dhubri MP, Badruddin Ajmal had shouted slogans in support of Pakistan to greet him, on his arrival at Silchar airport. Biswa's claim was reiterated by an Assamese news channel, News Live, which is owned by Biswa's wife, and then also confirmed by several news channels and newspapers, including Times Now, CNN News18, and The New Indian Express. Biswa's posts were flagged by Facebook as misinformation and blocked from being shared, after independent third-party fact-checkers examined videos of the event, and demonstrated that the slogans shouted had consisted of the names of political leaders and not in support of Pakistan. Guwahati Police have since registered a First Information Report and opened a case. [48] [49] [50] [51] [52] [53] [ excessive citations ]
In April 2021, Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that there is no need to wear masks in the state as there is no more coronavirus present in Assam when India was undergoing the second wave of COVID-19. [54]
On 11 February 2022 while addressing a rally at Uttarakhand, Sarma said to Rahul Gandhi, "Did we ever ask you for proof of whether you are Rajiv Gandhi's son or not?" [55] His statements were criticised by then Chief Minister of Telangana, KCR for using derogatory language against a Member of Parliament and said these derogatory language should not be used by a chief minister of a state. [56] TPCC president Revanth Reddy filed a complain at Jubilee Hills police station of Hyderabad. A case has been registered under sections 504 and 505 (2) of the Indian Penal Code against Himanta Biswa Sarma. Reddy said, "Himanta Biswa Sarma's remarks are humiliating for a woman" and asked "Why did the Chief Electoral Officer of the National Election Commission not order the arrest of Himanta Biswa Sharma?". "BJP should remove Himanta Biswa from the post of Chief Minister. But the BJP is supporting the remarks of the Assam Chief Minister." [57] On 19 September 2023, Uttarakhand High Court summoned Sarma for his remarks. [58]
Though Sarma was implicated in the Manabendra Sarma case he was acquitted by the court. [59] [60] [61] A Delhi-based advocate from Assam has lodged a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against the Assam police "on an encounter spree" since Sarma stated in the police conference that police should shoot alleged criminals at legs which are permitted by the law. [62]
During Prime Minister Modi's visit to the United States in June 2023, former President Obama made comments about Muslims in India. In response, Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed with Islamophobic slur that there are many "Hussain Obama in India" (in reference to Obama's full name, Barack Hussein Obama II) and his priority will be in dealing with them. [63] This triggered extensive discussions in India and abroad. [64]
In July 2023, an Independent Rajya Sabha member filed a police complaint against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of delivering a "hate speech" against the 'Miya' community (Bengali-Muslim Community) who often are targets of communal attacks. Sarma had commented on high vegetable prices, stating that Miya vendors charge more in Guwahati compared to Assamese vendors. He emphasised clearing footpaths and urged Assamese people to initiate businesses. The remarks sparked controversy and led to a formal complaint against the Chief Minister. [65] [66]
On 19 September, while addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh, Sarma told Kamal Nath to burn 10, Janpath (residence of Sonia Gandhi) to prove his Hindu Identity. [67] Few days later, Leader of Opposition, Assam, Debabrata Saikia filled FIR on Sarma for hate speech. [68]
In September 2023, the Singapore government awarded Himanta Biswa Sarma the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship for his distinguished contribution to public service. [69]
Asom Gana Parishad is a political party in the state of Assam, India. The AGP was formed following the historic Assam Accord of 1985 and formally launched at the Golaghat Convention held from 13 to 14 October 1985 in Golaghat, which also allowed Prafulla Kumar Mahanta who was the youngest chief minister of the state to be elected. The AGP has formed government twice once in 1985 then again in 1996. The popularity of AGP surged in the late 1980s but declined in the 2000s. After a 20-year gap, AGP, in alliance with NDA, won a Lok Sabha seat in 2024.
Tarun Gogoi was an Indian politician and lawyer who served as the 13th Chief Minister of Assam from 2001 to 2016. He was the longest serving Chief Minister of Assam. He was a member of the Indian National Congress. During his tenure as the chief minister, he is credited with ending militant insurgency and mitigating violence in addition to improving the state's fiscal condition.
Sarbananda Sonowal is an Indian politician who has served as Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways since 2021. He also has been the Member of the Rajya Sabha representing Assam since 2021 and also a member of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs since 2021. He previously served as the 14th Chief Minister of Assam from 2016 to 2021 and as a member of Assam Legislative Assembly for Majuli from 2016 to 2021 and for Moran from 2001 to 2004. Sonowal earlier served as the Assam state unit President of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from 2012 to 2014 and again from 2015 to 2016. He also served as the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of India, from 2014 to 2016 and the Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Skill Development from 2014 to 2014 and the member of the Lok Sabha from Lakhimpur from 2014 to 2016 and from Dibrugarh from 2004 to 2009. He was also the member of the Asom Gana Parishad from 2001 to 2011.
The Barak Valley is the southernmost region and administrative division of the Indian state of Assam. It is named after the Barak river. The Barak valley consists of three administrative districts of Assam namely - Cachar, Karimganj, and Hailakandi. The main and largest city is Silchar, which seats the headquarter of Cachar district and also serves as administrative divisional office of Barak valley division. The valley is bordered by Mizoram and Tripura to the south, Bangladesh and Meghalaya to the west and Manipur to the east respectively. Once North Cachar Hills was a part of Cachar district which became a subdivision in 1951 and eventually a separate district. On 1 July 1983, Karimganj district was curved out from the eponymous subdivision of Cachar district. In 1989 the subdivision of Hailakandi was upgraded into Hailakandi district.
Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, also known as Sarusajai Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Lokhra locality, Guwahati, Assam, India. Seating 21,600 people, it is the home ground of NorthEast United FC and is used for athletic events. The stadium was one of the venues for the 2007 National Games, the 2016 South Asian Games, and the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
News Live is a 24-hour Indian Assamese-language satellite news channel broadcasting news, current affairs and infotainment programmes. It is owned by Pride East Entertainments Pvt Ltd, a Guwahati based media group whose majority stake is owned by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. News Live has the highest viewership among all Assamese news channels.
Bhogeswar Baruah is an Indian former-athlete and coach. He was one of the first Assamese to win gold at an international event, winning a gold medal in an 800-metre running event at the 1966 Asian Games. He also won a silver medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay in the 1970 Asian games. He is a recipient of the Arjuna Award and is the first Assamese to obtain the Arjuna award.
Ajanta Neog is an Indian politician who is currently serving as the Minister of Finance and Women and Child Development in the Government of Assam since May 2021. She is the first woman Finance Minister of Assam. She has been representing the Golaghat Assembly seat consecutively for the past five terms since 2001. She also holds the record for being the longest-serving female legislator of Assam.
The Assam Legislative Assembly Election of 2016 was held in two phases, on 4 and 11 April 2016, to elect members of the 126 constituencies in Assam, a state in North-eastern India. The overall voter turnout was 84.72%, which set a new record for Assam. The turnout was an increase from the 2011 Assembly election figure of 75%.
Jalukbari Assembly constituency is one of the 126 assembly constituencies of Assam state assembly, in north-east India. It is a segment of Gauhati Lok Sabha constituency.
The North-East Democratic Alliance is a political coalition that was formed on May 24, 2016, by Bharatiya Janata Party. The motive of the new political front was to unite non-Congress parties in Northeast India. Himanta Biswa Sarma was appointed as the convenor of the front.
Pradan Baruah is an Indian politician who is member of Parliament and elected to 16th Lok Sabha from Lakhimpur seat since November 2016. He won the by-election in November 2016, after the sitting member Sarbananda Sonowal resigned from the seat in May 2016 after becoming the Chief Minister of Assam. He was earlier the member of Assam Legislative Assembly from Dhemaji Assembly constituency in Dhemaji district.
Pijush Hazarika is a Bharatiya Janata Party politician from Assam. He has been a member of Assam legislative assembly since 2011. He was elected in Assam Legislative Assembly election in 2011 from Raha constituency and in 2016 and 2021 from Jagiroad constituency.
The 2021 Assam Legislative Assembly election was the 15th quinquennial legislative assembly election held in the Indian state of Assam from March 27 to April 6 in three phases, to elect 126 MLAs to the 15th Assam Legislative Assembly. The votes were counted and the result declared on Sunday, 2 May. The term of the previous Fourteenth Legislative Assembly of Assam ended on 31 May 2021.
The Bharatiya Janata Party, or simply, BJP Assam, is the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party of the Assam. Its head office is situated at the 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee Bhawan' Near Hengrabari L.P. School Hengrabari, Guwahati-781 036, Assam, India. The current president of BJP Assam is Bhabesh Kalita.
The Sarma ministry is the current council of ministers of the Government of Assam which has been in office since 10 May 2021. The ministry is headed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and consists of 16 cabinet ministers. The chief minister and 14 other ministers were sworn-in into office by Governor Jagdish Mukhi on 10 May 2021.
Ardhendu Kumar Dey was an Indian politician and Minister of Irrigation and Soil Conservation in the Government of Assam. He was elected to the Assam Legislative Assembly from Hojai constituency from 1991 till 2006 as a member of INC. He was re-elected as an MLA from Hojai from 2011 to 2016. In April 2021, he left the Indian National Congress.
Riniki Bhuyan Sharma is an Indian businesswoman from Assam. She is the managing director of Pride East Entertainment, a media house. She is married to Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister of Assam.
The social movement of Meitei language to be included as an associate official language of the Government of Assam is advocated by several literary, political, social associations and organisations as well as notable individual personalities of Northeast India.