She is first time MLA from Kokrajhar. The NDA government will take oath on May 12.
A senior BJP leader who does not want to be named said, “BPF is likely to get one ministerial berth in the council of ministers. Similarly, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) is likely to get one ministerial berth. Along with the chief minister one minister each from BPF and AGP will take oath on May 12.”
The leader said, “In earlier government allies got two ministerial each. In 2016 AGP got two ministerial berths, in 2021 AGP again got two ministerial berths. In 2021 United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) was an ally of BJP and they got two berths in the council of ministers. Now we have an alliance with BPF. BJP has got a massive mandate and we have to accommodate several BJP leaders. The size of the council of ministers in Assam is 18 including the chief minister.”
Also read | Meet Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s A-team
From 60 seats in 2021, the BJP this time won 82 in the 126-member assembly. NDA together won 102 seats. Both AGP and BPF won 10 seats each.
Sewli while talking to media persons said she is keen to become minister. “Being a minister will be able to do more work for the people.” BPF has denied party ticket to former minister Pramila Rani Brahma and fielded Sewli from Kokrajhar seat. Brahma has been representing this Kokrajhar East constituency since 1991. Post delimitation exercise of 2023 the Kokrajhar East seat was renamed as Kokrajhar.
Hagrama told media persons, “BPF has not put any demand for ministerial berths. We want the development of the Bodoland council area.”
BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma had said that the oath taking of the NDA government will take place on May 12.
He told media persons on May 12 around 11 am the council of ministers will take oath. On May 10 there will be a meeting of the BJP legislature party. “The leader of the legislature party will be elected. Then there will be a meeting of NDA MLAs where the NDA leader will be elected.”
Also read | Teacher recalls Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari as student
Sarma said, “Around 12pm we will meet the Governor and seek permission to form a new government. Once we get the approval the process of government formation will start.”
He said, “On May 12 in presence of Prime minister Narendra Modi oath taking will take place. Chief ministers and Deputy chief ministers of 20 states will attend the oath taking ceremony. Several big industrialists are likely to come for the ceremony.”
Sarma said, “Several Satradhikars (head)of Satra (Vaishnavite monasteries) are likely to attend the function. Booth committee Presidents of BJP and AGP will also attend the function. Even elected members of Gaon Panchayat will come to attend the oath taking event.”
BJP leader Jagat Prakash Nadda and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini have been appointed as observers for the legislature party meeting.
Congress party
Post assembly polls debacle, Congress party reviewed the performance of the party in recently held assembly polls. Congress could just win 19 seats. It won 26 seats in 2021.
Two-time leader of opposition Debabrata Saikia lost election from Nazira seat. Saikia is son of former Assam chief minister Hiteswar Saikia.
Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Gaurav Gogoi who lost from Jorhat seat said, “There was a sharp drop in EVM battery levels between polling day and counting day, which had fuelled suspicion among party workers regarding the scale of the BJP’s victory. Some EVMs that allegedly showed battery levels of around 96% on polling day were found with significantly reduced charge levels, around 6%, during counting. They demanded a proper investigation into the matter.”
Congress leader Sibamoni Bora said the BJP leadership’s confidence before the declaration of results had further intensified doubts within the party. “The results are unexpected. BJP leaders had repeatedly claimed before counting that they would win specific seats with clear margins. How could anyone predict the results so accurately?”
Senior Congress leader Jitendra Singh, who recently resigned as general secretary in charge of Assam following the electoral setback, also attended the meeting on Saturday.
Gaurav said, “The voter list was filled with people from outside the state. We had taken up matters with the Election Commission. Just before the election we saw people were brought from outside the state in large numbers.”
