Himanta Biswa Sarma Sworn in as Assam Chief Minister for Second Consecutive Term
NEW DELHI: Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Assam for a second consecutive term on Tuesday, further solidifying the BJP-led NDA’s dominance in the northeastern state following its significant victory in the recent assembly elections.
At the age of 57, Sarma is the first non-Congress leader in Assam to return as chief minister for two successive terms. The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Lakshman Prasad Acharya at a grand ceremony held at the Veterinary College Field in Khanapara, Guwahati.
Alongside Sarma, four other legislators took their oaths: BJP leaders Ajanta Neog and Rameshwar Teli, as well as Atul Bora from the AGP and Charan Boro from the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF). Neog, Bora, and Boro had previously served in Sarma’s cabinet, while Teli marks his return to state politics after his tenure as a Union minister.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Guwahati on Monday night before the swearing-in ceremony and attended the event with several senior BJP and NDA leaders. At the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, he was welcomed by Sarma and other party officials.
Among those present were Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and BJP National President Nitin Nabin, along with several Union ministers such as Sarbananda Sonowal, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Chirag Paswan. Chief ministers and deputy chief ministers from BJP-ruled states, notable industrialists, Satradhikars, and party workers were also in attendance, with reports indicating that more than one lakh people turned out for the ceremony.
The BJP-led NDA achieved a substantial mandate in the Assam Assembly elections, winning 102 of the 126 available seats. The BJP itself secured 82 seats, while its alliance partners, the AGP and BPF, each won 10. This marks the third consecutive NDA government in Assam, following the initial victory of the alliance in 2016 under the leadership of Sarbananda Sonowal.
