GUWAHATI, May 11: The stage is set for Himanta Biswa Sarma to take oath as Assam chief minister for a second consecutive term on Tuesday, marking the start of the BJP-led NDA government’s third straight tenure in the state.
The swearing-in ceremony at the Veterinary College Field in Khanapara is expected to witness the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal and BJP national president Nitin Nabin, along with over 40 NDA chief ministers and deputy chief ministers.
Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, who on Sunday appointed Sarma as the chief minister, will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the BJP leader and members of the new Council of Ministers at 11:40 am.
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Sarma, who first became chief minister in 2021, will be the first non-Congress leader in Assam to serve two consecutive terms as CM.
This will be the NDA’s third consecutive term in the state since the BJP-led alliance first came to power in 2016 under then CM Sarbananda Sonowal.
The NDA, comprising the BJP, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), secured a sweeping mandate in the assembly polls, winning a record 102 seats in the 126-member House. The BJP alone bagged 82, its first single-party majority in the state, while AGP and BPF won 10 seats each.
A new council of ministers is also likely to be sworn in alongside Sarma, with representation expected from all alliance partners.
Following the ceremony, Sarma is expected to outline the new government’s priorities for the first 100 days, including commitments relating to land rights and eviction drives.
As Khanapara gets its final touches, the ceremony will be more than an oath — it will be BJP’s statement of intent for Assam’s next five years.
Sarma had already stated that the new government would carry out development work and take Assam forward.
The massive election victory follows a campaign fought on ‘identity, land and security’ — including eviction drives and curbing illegal immigration.
Echoing this on Monday, he wrote in a post on X: “Assam’s land, identity and future are non-negotiable. After freeing 1.5 lakh bighas land from encroachment, #NDA3.0 moves ahead with a firm resolve to reclaim 5 lakh more bighas for the people of Assam. Because for us, Jati, Mati, Bheti comes first.”
The Veterinary College Playground is abuzz with activity as workers erect a massive pandal, media galleries, and separate enclosures for VIPs, booth presidents and panchayat members.
“The choice of Khanapara — used for major state functions — signals the government’s intent to host a large public gathering alongside the constitutional ceremony. With workers mobilised from all 126 constituencies, crowd size will be read as a measure of post-victory enthusiasm,” BJP Assam media relations convenor Dhrubajyoti Maral told PTI.
He said workers from all 126 constituencies were being mobilised and more than one lakh people were expected to attend the event.
“There will be three stages at the venue. The swearing-in will take place at the main stage, where the PM, Union Home Minister, Governor, CM-elect and central ministers will sit. We are expecting at least six Union ministers, 20 CMs and 23 deputy CMs,” a senior official told PTI.
In the second stage, Padma awardees, several ambassadors and high commissioners, leading industrialists and Satradhikars will be seated, while all MLAs and MPs will find a place on the third stage, she added.
Chief Secretary Ravi Kota chaired a high-level review with DGP Harmeet Singh to lock down arrangements, a senior police official told PTI.
“Security for PM and VIPs, traffic diversion on GS Road and NH-27, venue access control, protocol and inter-department coordination are being monitored closely. Multiple police battalions, CAPFs, SPG and NSG components are being deployed. Security agencies have been told to ensure that the event runs smoothly, securely and in a manner befitting the significance of the occasion,” he added.
After being unanimously elected leader of the BJP-led NDA’s legislature party on Sunday, Sarma, along with alliance leaders, met the governor at Lok Bhavan and formally staked claim to form the government.
Union minister JP Nadda and Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini, who were appointed the BJP’s central observer and co-observer, oversaw the election of Sarma as legislative leader of the NDA.
Eight party MLAs, including Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Ajanta Neog, Ashok Singhal and Pijush Hazarika, proposed Sarma’s name as their leader, which was unanimously accepted.
Addressing the NDA legislature party meeting, Sarma thanked the people for the mandate and said the new government would work with greater vigour for the welfare and development of all sections of society.
“This is a proud moment for the BJP-led NDA after the historic mandate, which was a support of our previous government’s good work and the commitment of PM Modi for Assam’s development,” he had said. (PTI)
