Guwahati (Assam), May 6: Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma stepped down on Wednesday, handing his resignation to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at Raj Bhavan to trigger the formation of a new BJP-led government in Assam after the NDA’s 102-seat landslide.
The move is constitutional protocol, not an exit. Sarma remains the BJP’s unanimous pick for a second term after leading the alliance to a third straight win. The BJP alone secured 82 seats, crossing the 64-seat majority mark for the first time since 2016, while allies AGP and BPF won 10 each. Congress was cut to 19, losing Leader of Opposition status.
“I will meet the governor and hand over my resignation after the results are submitted to him. It will pave the way for the formation of a new government,” Sarma told reporters before the meeting. The Chief Electoral Officer submitted the final results to Acharya on Wednesday morning, clearing the way for the resignation.
Sarma said BJP national president J.P. Nadda and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini have been appointed central observers to oversee the legislative party meeting. “I will talk to Nadda ji and call the MLAs as per the date set by him. With it, the government formation process will start,” he said.
The NDA victory cements Sarma as the face of the BJP in the Northeast. He retained Jalukbari by 89,434 votes while campaigning statewide, calling the mandate “historic and unprecedented.” Congress state chief Gaurav Gogoi lost Jorhat, underscoring the scale of the rout.
Governor Acharya is expected to invite Sarma to form government once the BJP Legislative Party re-elects him leader in the next 48 hours. The oath-taking will mark Sarma’s second term and the BJP’s third consecutive government in Assam, a first for the party in the state.
Sources said the swearing-in will be held this week, with Sarma set to become the first BJP Chief Minister in Assam to serve back-to-back terms.
