Won't be contesting polls, winning 100 seats for BJP 'only ambition': Himanta Biswa Sarma

Guwahati: Assam health and finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today announced via a tweet that he will not be contesting the 2021 Assembly polls in Assam.

In a series of tweets, the minister, who currently represents the Jalukbari Assembly Constituency, said that his only ambition is to see his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) win 100 seats in the upcoming polls.

"Few people feel that I am after some post and position. My only ambition is to see a BJP GOVT with 100+http://seats.In my last few months, I want to work for my state as much as possible to have eternal satisfaction", Sarma wrote in a tweet.

Although Sarma did not specify the names of the people who feel that he is after "some post", his statement can be construed as a rebuttal to the opposition party leaders who have accused him of having Chief Ministerial ambitions.

For instance, MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar on Tuesday has claimed that the BJP Minister has ambitions to become the next Chief Minister after the end of the polls next year.

At the same time, Congressman and former minister Rakibul Hussain has said that he would be "okay" with Sarma as the next Chief Minister of Assam, albeit as a Congress candidate.

In another tweet, Sarma said that he is not interested in contesting the polls. However, he wants to help the BJP establish a "nationalist government" in Assam.

"As I have already indicated in several public platforms that I am not interested in contesting the 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", Sarma said.

Several days ago, veteran Congress leader Tarun Gogoi had claimed that former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi was being floated as a serious contender for post of Chief Minister for the BJP. Ranjan Gogoi has since quashed the claims.

Sarma yesterday said that not a single person is being zeroed in by the BJP as a potential CM and the decision in this regard would be taken by the party's leadership in subsequent times.

The BJP has not even decided whether the party will announce the chief ministerial candidate prior to the assembly elections, Sarma said while addressing media persons yesterday.

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