Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda has appointed party’s Rangia MLA and former irrigation minister Bhabesh Kalita as the new Assam BJP president.

The order, issued by BJP national general secretary Arun Singh, said: “BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda has appointed Bhabesh Kalita, MLA as state president of Assam BJP.”

“This appointment comes into immediate effect,” it said.

BJP national vice-president Baijayant Jay Panda has congratulated Bhabesh Kalita for being appointed as the new state party president of Assam.

“Heartiest congratulations to Shri Bhabesh Kalita Ji, appointed by @BJP4India Nat’l President Shri @JPNadda Ji as the new @BJP4Assam President,” Panda tweeted on Saturday.

Stating that Kalita is a senior leader with a dynamic reputation, Panda hoped under his leadership, the party would reach new heights in Assam under his leadership.

“A young former minister & MLA, he is a senior leader with a dynamic reputation. Under his leadership BJP will reach new heights in Assam,” Panda tweeted.

After winning the 2016 Assam Assembly election from Rangia constituency, Bhbesh Kalita got berth in the then Sarbananda Sonowal-led ministry.

He served as the minister of state (independent charge) for irrigation and MoS for education in Sonowal ministry.

Kalita was elected to the Assam Assembly for the second time after winning the Assembly election held this year.

But he was dropped from the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led ministry, which took oath in May.

Bhabesh Kalita will replace Ranjeet Kumar Dass as the Assam BJP president, who has been inducted in the Sarma Cabinet as the panchayat & rural development minister.