Sonia Gandhi offered me CM post in 2014, but Rahul intervened: Himanta Biswa Sarma (X)
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday claimed that then Congress president Sonia Gandhi had cleared his name for the chief minister’s post in 2014, but the decision changed after Rahul Gandhi intervened from the United States.
After a cabinet meeting at the state assembly, Himanta Biswa Sarma, while talking to the reporters, referred to a political situation that took place in Assam many years ago, when there was dissidence in the then ruling Congress.
He said that in 2014 majority of MLAs had supported him to replace the then Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
Himanta Biswa Sarma said that then Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had asked him to decide his swearing-in date, however, Rahul Gandhi intervened from the United States and ensured Tarun Gogoi remained the chief minister.
“Madam (Sonia Gandhi), whom I still refer to as such, had asked me to decide on the date and I had told her that I would take oath the day after the Ambubachi Mela at Kamakhya Temple in June (2014),” he said.
Without telling much avout the conversations, Sarma said, “The situation changed after Rahul Gandhi made the calls.”
Sarma also said that when Congress had rushed senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge to Assam during the crisis, about 58 MLAs had expressed support for him.
He also said that a handful remained neutral, while only 12 wanted the status quo to continue under Tarun Gogoi.
“When Mallikarjun Kharge came, 58 MLAs backed me for the CM’s post. Several senior leaders remained neutral. Only 12 MLAs said Himanta Biswa Sarma should not become the CM and that the incumbent should continue,” he said.
“Justice was not given to me, but Kharge always told my opponents in the party: you fight with Himanta but he has the MLAs,” the chief minister said.
Sarma admitted that he was “hurt” at the time, but now feels thankful because he had been able to "fearlessly work for Sanatan and Assam."
“I was hurt then, but now I believe that whatever happens in one's life is for the best and God has given me much more than what I would have got, had I remained in the Congress,” he said.
“As the BJP CM, I got a chance to serve both Assam and Sanatan dharma wholeheartedly, which would not have been possible had I been in the Congress. I thank Rahul Gandhi for this,” added Sarma.
Sarma, who joined the BJP in 2015 and became chief minister in 2021, said that there is more to this story and added that he would elaborate if he ever writes a book.
“These are facts and there are many witnesses to this but I am thankful that it did not happen as I would have become tainted for eternity,” he said.
Sarma resigned from the Tarun Gogoi cabinet in 2014 and quit the Congress the following year.
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