Himanta Biswa Sarma was on Monday sworn in as the 15th Chief Minister of Assam along with 13 members of his cabinet. The oath of office was administered by Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi at the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati.
The 13 new cabinet minister sworn in along with Sarma were Atul Bora and Keshab Mahanta of AGP, Urkhao Gwra Brahma of UPPL, state BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Parimal Suklabaidya, Chandra Mohan Patowary, Ranoj Pegu, Sanjay Kishan, Pijush Hazarika, Jogen Mohan, Ashok Singhal, and Bimal Bora.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by BJP National President J P Nadda, DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and BJP National General Secretary Dilip Saikia and many other leaders of the party as well as opposition parties.
Former CM Sarbananda Sonowal, Manipur Chief Minister M Biren Singh, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Tripura CM Biplab Deb and Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio and other leaders also attended the ceremony.
Sarma, who was elected as the leader of the BJP Legislature Party on Sunday, succeeds Sarbananda Sonowal as the 15th Chief Minister of the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Sarma and said he was confident the team will add momentum to the development journey of Assam.
"Congratulations to @himantabiswa Ji and the other Ministers who took oath today. I am confident this team will add momentum to the development journey of Assam and fulfil aspirations of the people," PM Modi tweeted.
PM Modi also thanked Sarbananda Sonowal for his contribution towards Assam’s progress and strengthening the party in the state.
"My valued colleague @sarbanandsonwal Ji was at the helm of a pro-people and pro-development administration over the last five years. His contribution towards Assam’s progress and strengthening the party in the state is immense," the Prime Minister said in another tweet.
In the recently concluded Assam Assembly election, the BJP won 60 seats while its alliance partners Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) got nine seats and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) got six seats.
