Summary:
Guwahati, Jun 25 (PTI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday claimed that before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to concentrate on state politics for the sake of development of the entire North-eastern region.
The state BJP had suggested that Sarma, then a Cabinet minister in Assam, contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls but Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah dissuaded him, he said.
At that time, the chief minister was Sarbananda Sonowal.
After the 2021 Assembly election, Sarma became the CM and Sonowal was elected to the Rajya Sabha and later made a Union minister.
Launching a book on Modi, Sarma said, “It was the time for ticket distribution for the Lok Sabha elections (of 2019).
Our state committee suggested that I contest the polls.” That night, Sarma said, he conferred privately with Modi and Shah during which the prime minister asked him to continue in Assam politics.
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At that time, Modi was seeking a second term as prime minister.
“Modi ji said that Lok Sabha seat-wise North East is not so important.
It is not vital for electoral politics, but for the development of the country, the progress of North East is essential.
For taking North East to the top level of development, he wanted us not to leave the region and continue working here,” the CM said.
Sarma’s name was suggested by the BJP state election committee for the Tezpur Lok Sabha constituency in 2019.