Himanta Biswa Sarma interested to contest LS elections

Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday hinted that he will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections if his party, the BJP, is keen on it, but made it clear he will not feature in the 2021 assembly polls

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a meetinghere in Lakhimpur district, Sarma said, "As I have statedearlier, I want to leave state politics and I don't want tocontest the 2021 assembly elections. I have conveyed mydecision to my party." On the prospect of contesting the general elections,he said: "I cannot take the decision... They (the BJP) cannominate me to contest for the Lok Sabha if they wish, and Iwill contest." Asked which parliamentary constituency would theminister prefer, Sarma said he was "okay" to contest from anyof the 14 seats in Assam

Sarma, who is also convenor of the North EastDemocratic Alliance (NEDA), exuded confidence that the BJPwould win 19 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats from the Northeast atthe upcoming hustings.