NDA leaders stake claim to form Assam government

Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), headed by Himanta Biswa Sarma, met Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya on Sunday (May 10, 2026) to stake a claim to form the government.

The formality followed the election of Mr. Sarma as the leader of the NDA in the 126-member Assam Assembly, paving the way for him to take oath as the Chief Minister for a second successive term. The swearing-in ceremony of the new council of ministers is scheduled for May 12.

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The newly elected members of the BJP and its regional allies — Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) — chose their leader in the morning. Union Minister J.P. Nadda and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini were the central observer and co-observer for the BJP Legislature Party meeting at the party headquarters.

Announcing Mr. Sarma’s name as the unanimously elected NDA leader, Mr. Nadda said eight BJP legislators proposed his name for the top post. “We are grateful to the people of Assam for showing their faith in the NDA once again to take the State on the path of progress,” he said.

“All legislators voted for Himanta Biswa Sarma as their leader. AGP president Atul Bora and BPF leader Rihon Daimary supported the proposal. Later, we staked claim to form the government with the support of 102 MLAs,” Mr Nadda said, adding that the new government would adhere to the Centre’s “new culture” of being proactive, responsive, and accountable.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, several other central ministers, and the BJP’s national president would attend the oath-taking ceremony.

The Assam elections were held in a single phase on April 9. The BJP overcame the challenge from a Congress-led opposition front of six parties to bag 82 seats, 18 more than the simple majority mark, while the AGP and BPF won 10 seats each.

The Congress managed 19 seats, the fewest since 2016, while its ally Raijor Dal and the minority-based All India United Democratic Front won two seats each. The remaining seat went to the Trinamool Congress.

For the first time in Assam, the Treasury and the Opposition benches would be divided on religious lines. All the successful NDA candidates are followers of Hinduism and indigenous faiths, while all but two of their 24 opposition counterparts are Muslims.