Unwilling to contest polls unless party decides: Himanta Sharma

Himanta Biswa Sarma, senior Cabinet Minister and convenor of North East Democratic Alliance, the North-East arm of the National Democratic Alliance, informed on Wednesday that he had communicated to BJP Chief Ranjeet Kumar Dass, via a hand-written letter a year ago, of his disinterest to contest in the upcoming Assembly elections.

"On my birthday on February 1, 2020, I gave a letter to Ranjeet Dass saying that I don't want to fight the 2021 assembly polls. This is not known to my wife or son, or any family member till now. I am making it public for the first time," said Sarma without disclosing reasons for the decision.

"However, there was one line (in that letter) which stated that if the party decides to field me as a candidate, I will follow the party's instruction," he added.

Himanta Sarma was elected four times from the Jalukbari constituency; in 2001, 2006 and 2011 as Congress MLA and then again in 2016 after joining the BJP in 2015.

The Assam Assembly elections are expected to be held in March-April '21.