Himanta Biswa Sarma Set for Second Consecutive Term as Assam Chief Minister, Swearing-In Tomorrow

Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday was unanimously elected leader of the BJP-led NDA Legislature Party in Assam, formally paving the way for him to return as Chief Minister for a second consecutive term , marking the beginning of what will be the third successive NDA government in the state.

The announcement was made by Union Minister J. P. Nadda after a meeting of newly elected NDA legislators held in Guwahati, following the alliance's emphatic victory in the Assam Assembly elections . Eight resolutions proposing Sarma's name were moved by senior BJP leaders, including Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Biswajit Daimary, Ajanta Neog, Rameswar Teli, Rajdeep Roy, Ashok Singhal, Pijush Hazarika and Chakradhar Gogoi. Alliance partners Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People's Front also supported Sarma's nomination, resulting in his unanimous election as NDA leader. Nadda and Nayab Singh Saini were present at the meeting as central observers and co-observers.

Himanta Biswa Sarma himself had won the Jalukbari seat by a massive margin of over 89,000 votes , polling 1,27,151 votes against his nearest Congress rival Bidisha Neog , who secured 37,717. On the results day, he had declared "Hat-trick with a century!" , a reference to the alliance crossing the three-digit mark in a 126-member House.

The BJP secured 82 seats out of 126 , well past the simple majority mark of 64, making it the first time the party achieved a majority on its own in Assam. Congress was reduced to just 19 seats . Alliance partners AGP and BPF won 10 seats each, taking the NDA's combined tally to 102 seats . It will be the third successive NDA government in Assam , with the saffron party-led administration first assuming power in 2016 under Sarbananda Sonowal .

Speaking after his election, Himanta Biswa Sarma thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said the NDA government would continue its development agenda over the next five years. "Prime Minister Modi has blessed us to form the government in Assam for a third consecutive term . The people have blessed us, and we will carry out development work over the next five years," Sarma said. He also thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president Nitin Nabin for their support during the elections.

Himanta Biswa Sarma is scheduled to take oath as Chief Minister on May 12 at a ceremony in Guwahati in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi . The event will be held at the Veterinary Field, Khanapara , and is expected to be attended by Chief Ministers from several states, Union ministers and industry representatives. Chief Secretary Ravi Kota has already chaired a comprehensive review meeting with the Director General of Police, Assam, to assess readiness for the Prime Minister's visit and the swearing-in event.

Later on Sunday, Sarma and other NDA leaders were scheduled to call on Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at the Lok Bhawan to stake their claim to form the next government. Sarma stated his government's ambition clearly: "We aim to take Assam forward and make it one of the most developed states in the country."