GUWAHATI: Assam is set to witness a major political moment as Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya officially appointed Himanta Biswa Sarma as the next Chief Minister of the state, paving the way for the BJP-led NDA government’s third consecutive term in power.
The announcement came shortly after Sarma was unanimously elected leader of the NDA legislature party following the alliance’s landslide performance in the Assembly elections. Accompanied by senior BJP leaders and alliance partners, Sarma met the Governor at Lok Bhavan and formally staked claim to form the new government.
According to an official notification issued by Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota, the Governor exercised powers under Article 164(1) of the Constitution to appoint Sarma as the Chief Minister. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place at 11:40 am on May 12 at Veterinary College Field in Khanapara, Guwahati.
The NDA alliance, comprising the BJP, Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People’s Front, secured a commanding majority by winning 102 seats in the 126-member Assembly. The BJP alone captured 82 seats, while AGP and BPF won 10 seats each, reinforcing the alliance’s dominance in Assam politics.
With this victory, Sarma has created political history by becoming the first non-Congress leader in Assam to serve two consecutive terms as Chief Minister. The NDA first came to power in the state in 2016 under former Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, marking the beginning of the BJP’s rise in the Northeast.
An official statement from Raj Bhavan confirmed that the Governor has invited Sarma to form the government and will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the Chief Minister-designate and members of the new Council of Ministers during the ceremony.
The oath-taking event is expected to witness the presence of several top national leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP president JP Nadda.
Addressing reporters after meeting the Governor, Sarma said he had received unanimous support from all NDA legislators. He stated that all 102 MLAs of the alliance had signed the letter backing his leadership. AGP president Atul Bora and BPF leader Rihon Daimari also submitted formal letters of support to the Governor.
Union Minister JP Nadda and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who were appointed as the BJP’s central observer and co-observer respectively, accompanied the NDA leaders during the meeting at Lok Bhavan.
Speaking to the media, Nadda described the election outcome as a reflection of public trust in Prime Minister Modi’s development-oriented governance model. He said the NDA’s decisive mandate demonstrated the growing support for the BJP’s policies in the Northeast and reaffirmed Assam’s importance in the party’s national expansion strategy.
Political analysts believe Sarma’s return to power further strengthens the BJP’s position in the Northeast, where the party has significantly expanded its influence over the last decade. The massive mandate is also being viewed as an endorsement of the state government’s focus on infrastructure, welfare schemes, and regional development initiatives.
The upcoming swearing-in ceremony is expected to be one of the largest political events in Assam this year, with thousands of supporters and party workers likely to attend the celebration of the NDA’s renewed mandate.