CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s strong work ethic and 24X7 governance model explain Assam’s unprecedented leap in the path of development in the past year
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma; (Photo: Bandeep Singh)
It was 15 minutes past midnight when the doorbell of Samir Sinha, principal secretary to Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, rang. Jayant Narlikar, commissioner and secretary to the state’s finance department, had come calling. The two had to iron out a couple of issues related to a few of the government schemes, but they also had CM Sarma on the phone line from his residence. Sarma and his two officers were engaged in intermittent conversations and by the time all the issues were resolved, it was nearly 2 am. In the administrative machinery of the Sarma-led Assam government, it was just a regular day, which usually begins at 8 in the morning. On some days, though, calls from the chief minister’s office can start even at 7 am.