Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn in as the chief minister of Assam for the second consecutive term on Tuesday, marking the formation of the third BJP-led NDA government in a row
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GUWAHATI — Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn in as the chief minister of Assam for the second consecutive term on Tuesday, marking the formation of the third BJP-led NDA government in a row in the northeastern state.
Four MLAs - BJP's Rameshwar Teli and Ajanta Neog, AGP's Atul Bora, Charan Boro of BPF - also took oath as ministers.
Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office to Sarma and the four legislators at a grand ceremony held at the Veterinary Ground in Khanapara area in Guwahati.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Sarbananda Sonowal, Pabitra Margherita, chief ministers and deputy CMs of BJP-ruled states and BJP president Nitin Nabin were present at the swearing-in ceremony.
The chief minister, attired in dhoti and kurta with the traditional 'gamosa' draped around his neck, took oath in the Assamese language.
Teli, Bora and Neog did the same while the BPF minister took the oath in the Bodo language.
The Prime Minister congratulated Sarma and the ministers after they were sworn in.
After the oath-taking ceremony was over, the PM greeted the people and those present on the dais before leaving the venue.
"With the blessings of Maa Kamakhya, Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev and the people of Assam, I took oath as the chief minister.
Along with the council of ministers, we look forward to serving our people and continue to fulfil all their aspirations," Sarma said in a post on X.
Earlier, in a social media post, he said Assam will scale new heights of development in the coming days.
"Honoured to reaffirm my oath to the people of Assam as their Mukhya Sevak," he said.
Neog, Bora and Boro were members of Sarma's first cabinet, while Teli, a former Union minister, returned to state politics.
Neog was the finance minister, while Bora took care of the agriculture department and Boro held the transport department in the outgoing government.
The NDA won a record 102 seats of the 126-member assembly, including the BJP's 82 constituencies.
The BJP allies, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bodoland Peoples' Front (BPF), bagged 10 seats each.
Sarma thanked Modi, Shah, Nabin and the people of Assam after the swearing-in ceremony.
The CM said that it was an extremely emotional moment for him as he took the oath as the chief minister of Assam for the second consecutive term.
''With all humility, I bow down to the people of Assam,'' Sarma said in a social media post.
He said this would not have been possible without the ''margdarshan of Adarniya Narendra Modi ji whose guidance throughout has been the biggest motivating factor for our government''.
"His leadership and vision, which has guided us in our path of Sewa (service) and Samarpan (dedication)'', Sarma added.
The CM also expressed gratitude to the BJP president.
''I would also like to place on record my deep gratitude for Rashtriya Adhyaksh Shri Nitin Nabin ji, whose leadership galvanised all NDA karyakartas in Assam to take the message of our good governance to every household," he said.
Sarma also said that the occasion would not have been possible without the ''mentorship of Adarniya Amit Shah ji who has stood with us like a rock in our path to bring back peace and prosperity to the state and work towards delivering our promises to the people''.
He also thanked BJP workers across Assam, who "toiled hard to achieve the historic victory".
''We will keep working till we realise the dream of a Viksit Assam. Gratitude'', Sarma added.