(This story originally appeared in on May 04, 2021)

Inner party consultations on deciding the next chief minister of Assam, with incumbent Sarbanand Sonowal and health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma being in contention, is expected to be finalised soon and the party’s parliamentary board is likely to meet virtually to endorse the name.

Though Sonowal has been chief minister for the past five years and BJP has returned to office, his name was not announced while Sarma has made it clear that he expects his claim to be considered by the BJP brass.