Guwahati, May 4: Assam has to wait a couple of days more for its new chief minister as the BJP central leadership is yet to take a final call, two days after the BJP-led alliance retained power for a second term in the state.
Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma told reporters here today that since the party's national president, JP Nadda, is in West Bengal today, any decision on Assam's next chief minister is not possible by today.
He added that a final decision is expected in another day or two, without divulging further details.
BJP state chief Ranjeet Kumar Dass further said the party's parliamentary committee will meet in New Delhi and depute a leader to oversee the process of formation of the new government in Assam.
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who was scheduled to come to Guwahati today to hold consultations with the newly-elected MLAs, has postponed his visit.
The BJP, which had named outgoing chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal for the top post ahead of polls in 2016, had refrained from naming anyone for the position this time.
Sonowal remains in the running to retain the position a second time, especially if the party central leadership decides to proceed without much changes, at least for the time being.
However, Dr Sharma has emerged a very strong contender for the position and has reportedly garnered support from about 50 new legislators for the position.
The other two partners in the alliance, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), have left it on the BJP to pick the chief minister.
The BJP has secured 60 seats in the new Assembly, while its allies AGP has won nine and UPPL six seats, totalling 75 in the House of 126 members.
