Assam polls 2026: No doubt over CM face as Himanta Biswa Sarma eyes second term

Guwahati: Seems this election there is no doubt on the chief minister's face in Assam as Himanta Biswa Sarma is all set to get a second stint as the chief minister if BJP comes back to power.

The counting of votes will take place on May 4. Union home minister Amit Shah in a series of rallies both before the announcement of election and after the declaration of election dates have declared that bring back once again BJP government led by Himanta Biswa Sarma and BJP will ensure every infiltrator will be deported.

In 2016 when BJP was taking on Congress it projected the student leader turned politician Sarbananda Sonowal to take on the three-time chief minister Tarun Gogoi. In 2021 under the leadership of Sonowal BJP fought the election and won 60 seats in the 126-member assembly. In 2016 BJP had won 60 seats. Prime minister Narendra Modi had in 2016 assembly polls used the slogan “Assam ka Anand Sarbanand” (Assam’s pleasure Sarbanand.


However, after the declaration of results in 2021 it took several days for the BJP leadership to announce the chief ministerial name.

A senior BJP leader who does not want to be named told ET, “There were days of uncertainty and a series of meetings took place in New Delhi involving both Sarma and Sonowal and then the party leadership finally zero in on the name of Sarma.”

The leader said, “ As most of the exit polls giving BJP and its allies clear edge in Assam, this time there is no doubt on the chief ministerial choice as in last five Sarma’s popularity has increased by leaps and bounds and Prime minister on several occasions applauded the work done by the Sarma in the five years.”