Sonowal or Sarma?

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its regional allies are set to retain power in Assam, overcoming the challenge of a combined opposition led by Congress. 

The ruling BJP-led NDA is surging ahead of the Grand Alliance spearheaded by the Congress, and is inching closer to another victory, as per the data available on the Election Commission website. Assam has a 126-member assembly and 64 seats are needed for a simple majority.

The ruling BJP-led NDA in Assam has won 48 seats and is leading in 24 assembly seats, while the Grand Alliance led by the Congress has won 24 seats and is leading in 27 seats.

Despite the BJP's expected win in Assam, it seems the party is not going to have an easy time deciding its chief minister nominee. Usually, the BJP projects an incumbent chief minister in places where it is trying to retain power, but it has not announced Sarbanand Sonowal as its chief ministerial candidate in Assam.

While Sonowal, who enjoys a clean image, managed to beat the so-called fatigue against his incumbent government, Himanta Biswa Sarma has also emerged as the face of the BJP in the last few years. His management of the Covid-19 situation and his leadership as the finance minister have helped the BJP secure a clear lead over the Congress-led combine in the state.

Sarma is considered the backbone of the BJP in the northeast region and believed to enjoy Amit Shah's confidence when it comes to the party's affairs in the region.