Guwahati, May 13: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said the state feels more secure with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in power in West Bengal, asserting that political alignment between the two neighbouring states would improve coordination on several shared challenges.
Speaking to reporters in Guwahati a day after taking oath for a second consecutive term as chief minister, Sarma said Assam and West Bengal have historically dealt with multiple common issues, particularly in matters related to law and order and inter-state coordination.
“Now that we have a government in West Bengal, Assam is feeling more secure because we face many common issues. In the past, there were instances where criminals could cross over to Bengal, and cooperation was not always easy. The situation has now changed,” he said.
The chief minister stated that the new political arrangement would allow both governments to work more closely in areas related to governance, security and development.
“The governments of West Bengal and Assam can work jointly in many sectors for the development of both states. This was not the case for many decades. The future is looking promising,” Sarma added.
Referring to the participation of West Bengal’s leadership in his swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, Sarma said it reflected the beginning of stronger regional cooperation.
“The presence of the West Bengal Chief Minister at the oath-taking ceremony, and the warmth shown by the people of West Bengal, project a bright future for the Northeast,” he said.
Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn in as Assam chief minister for a second consecutive term after the BJP-led alliance retained power in the state.
