Hiteswar Saikia was the chief minister of Assam

Assam

Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...

 for two terms, first from February 27, 1983 to December 23, 1985 and then from June 30, 1991 to April 22, 1996. He was a senior leader of the Indian National Congress

Indian National Congress

The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...

. During his first tenure as the chief minister, the famous Anti Foreigners Movement took place under the joint leadership of Sri Prafulla Kumar Mahanta

Prafulla Kumar Mahanta

Prafulla Kumar Mahanta was the leader of the Assam Movement, a former Chief Minister of Assam and belongs to the Asom Gana Parishad , a major political party in the Indian state of Assam...

 and the late Bhrigu Kumar Phukan, the President and the General Secretary respectively of the All Assam Students Union

All Assam Students Union

All Assam Students Union is a five-tier students' union in Assam, India.All Assam Students Union or AASU is a students' organization in Assam, India. It is best known for leading the six-year Assam Movement against alleged illegal immigrants from Bangladesh...

. Saikia was a stern nationalist and an opponent of militancy in any situation. He is often criticised for crashing the militancy mercilessly in Assam. Saikia was an able administrator. He is credited for improving the education scenario of the state by provincialising a number of educational institutions. Saikia died while in office.

He allegedly orchestrated a number of "surrenders" of ULFA operatives.