Himanta Biswa Sarma Takes Oath for Second Term as Assam CM

BJP-led NDA Begins Third Consecutive Term in Assam

Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday took oath as the Chief Minister of Assam for a second consecutive term, marking the return of the BJP-led NDA government in the state for a third straight tenure. The swearing-in ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and several senior NDA leaders, was held at the Veterinary College Ground in Khanapara, Guwahati.

Along with Sarma, four legislators — Rameswar Teli, Atul Bora, Charan Boro and Ajanta Neog — also took oath as ministers in the new cabinet. Parts of the oath-taking ceremony were conducted in Assamese, reflecting the state government’s emphasis on regional identity and local connect.

High-Profile Attendance

The event turned into a major show of strength for the BJP-led alliance, with chief ministers and senior ministers from multiple NDA-ruled states arriving in Guwahati since early Tuesday morning. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were among those present.

Prime Minister Modi greeted ministers, NDA leaders and members of the newly sworn-in Assam cabinet after the ceremony. Visuals from the venue showed a large turnout of BJP workers and supporters despite the humid afternoon conditions in Guwahati.

Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia claimed that “lakhs of people” had gathered for the ceremony, describing it as a “historic moment” for the state and the alliance.

Ministers Sworn In

Former Union Minister and BJP leader Rameswar Teli was among the first to take oath as minister. Teli, who previously represented Dibrugarh in Parliament, was elected from the Duliajan Assembly constituency in the recent election.

AGP leader Atul Bora and senior leaders Charan Boro and Ajanta Neog also joined the new cabinet. According to party sources, the full cabinet expansion is expected in phases over the coming days.

Earlier, Sarma had indicated that the new ministry could eventually include around 18 to 19 ministers, though the final composition would depend on consultations with the BJP leadership.

Focus on Development

Ahead of the ceremony, Nitin Gadkari said infrastructure projects worth nearly ₹2 lakh crore are currently in the pipeline for Assam. He said the Centre would continue to support the state’s development push in roads, highways and connectivity.

The BJP leadership has repeatedly projected Assam as a key gateway to the Northeast, both politically and economically. Over the last few years, the state has witnessed large-scale infrastructure spending, expansion of road networks and increased investment proposals.

According to BJP leaders, the renewed mandate is also being viewed as an endorsement of Sarma’s governance model, particularly his focus on welfare delivery, law and order, and regional connectivity.

BJP’s Northeast Strategy

Himanta Biswa Sarma has emerged as one of the BJP’s most influential faces in the Northeast over the past decade. After leaving the Congress and joining the BJP in 2015, he played a central role in expanding the NDA’s footprint across the region through the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA).

Political observers say his ability to negotiate alliances with regional parties helped the BJP strengthen its presence in states where it previously had limited organisational reach.

At present, all eight Northeastern states either have BJP governments or NDA-backed coalition administrations, a shift the party often credits to its long-term regional strategy and alliance-building efforts.

Ceremony Draws Political Attention

The swearing-in ceremony also carried national political significance ahead of upcoming state elections in different parts of the country. Several NDA leaders used the occasion to underline the alliance’s electoral momentum.

Union Minister Annapurna Devi described the BJP’s latest victory in Assam as “historic”, while leaders from allied parties praised Sarma’s political management and outreach in the Northeast.

With the new government formally in place, attention will now shift to cabinet expansion, departmental allocations and the administration’s policy priorities for the next term. The Himanta Biswa Sarma government is expected to continue focusing on infrastructure, investment and regional security issues in Assam.