Himanta Biswa Sarma Takes Oath as Assam Chief Minister for Second Consecutive Term

Himanta Biswa Sarma's Oath Ceremony

Himanta Biswa Sarma has once again assumed leadership in Assam. The Governor, Laxman Prasad Acharya, administered the oath of office to Sarma at 11:40 AM at the Veterinary Ground in Khanapara. Alongside him, four other legislators also took their oaths. This marks Sarma's second consecutive term as the Chief Minister of the state. The oath-taking ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP President Nitin Gadkari, Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers from NDA-ruled states, along with several central ministers and officials from the BJP and NDA.

The event also saw the presence of prominent industrialists, heads of Vaishnav monasteries, and other dignitaries, including BJP workers and booth committee leaders.

Historic Achievement for Sarma

At 57 years old, Himanta Biswa Sarma has become the first non-Congress Chief Minister in Assam to serve two consecutive terms. The four legislators who took the oath alongside him include BJP's Ajanta Neog and Rameshwar Teli, Atul Bora from the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), and Chara Boro from the Bodoland People's Front (BPF). Neog, Bora, and Boro were previously part of Sarma's first cabinet, while Teli is making a comeback in state politics. This marks the third government formed by the NDA in Assam, which first came to power in 2016 under Sarbananda Sonowal, who is now a minister in the central government.

BJP's Dominance in Assam

Historically, Assam was a stronghold of the Congress party, but it has now transformed into a bastion for the BJP. In the recent elections, the NDA secured a two-thirds majority for the third consecutive time, with the BJP winning 82 seats alone. Its allies, AGP and BPF, each secured 10 seats in the 126-member assembly, while Congress managed to win only 19 seats. The Congress party was the dominant force in the state until 1978 when it was first ousted by the Janata Party.

However, the Janata Party government did not complete its term. Between 1979 and 1985, Assam experienced political turmoil, leading to the Assam Movement against illegal immigration, which saw power oscillate between Congress and President's rule. The AGP emerged from this movement, achieving its first victory in 1985 and again in 1996. Congress regained power in 2001 and strengthened its position in the 2011 elections, winning 78 seats. In 2016, during Congress's last term, the BJP made significant gains, winning 60 seats and forming an alliance with AGP and BPF, totaling 86 seats. In the 2021 elections, the BJP won 60 seats again, while the NDA coalition secured 75 seats, with the BJP achieving a remarkable increase to 82 seats, the highest for any party excluding Congress.

Sarma's Leadership Legacy

It is noteworthy that Himanta Biswa Sarma succeeded Sarbananda Sonowal in leading the second NDA government in Assam. Following AGP's Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, he is the only non-Congress leader to hold the Chief Minister's position for a second term. Mahanta returned to power after a five-year gap, while Sarma continues to lead the government for a second consecutive term, a feat previously achieved only by Congress Chief Ministers.