Himanta Biswa Sarma takes oath as Assam CM for second successive time

Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Assam for the second successive term, a first for a non-Congress leader in the State on Tuesday (May 12).

Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Sarma at the College of Veterinary Science Playground on the southern edge of Guwahati, reports the Hindu.

Four others — Rameswar Teli and Ajanta Neog of BJP, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president Atul Bora and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) leader Charan Boro — were also sworn in as Minister-designates.

The AGP and BPF are the constituents of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and other Union Ministers, the Chief Ministers of 22 NDA-ruled States and Union Territories, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, top industrialists, and religious leaders, including the abbots of 17 Vaishnav monasteries across Assam, attended the ceremony.

Among the foreign delegates present on the occasion was Sergio Gor, the Ambassador of the United States to India.

“May the blessings of Maa Kamakhya and (15th-16th century saint-reformer) Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev illuminate the lives of everyone in Assam and open new pathways to peace, progress and prosperity. Assam will scale new heights of development in the coming days with their blessings,” Mr. Sarma posted on X ahead of the swearing-in.

“The NDA’s third term will be a golden period for Assam,” Mr Bora said, assuring the people of accelerated development.

This is the NDA’s third consecutive term in Assam. It swept the April 9 Assembly elections by bagging 102 of the State’s 126 seats. The BJP won 82 of these, and the AGP and BJP 10 each.