Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s political timeline

4 hours ago 1
ARTICLE AD BOX
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Bishwa Sarma. File

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Bishwa Sarma. File | Photo Credit: Ritu Raj Konwar

Assam has its 15th Chief Minister, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma..

He was sworn in as the CM for a second consecutive time on May 12, 2026, making him the first non-Congress leader to hold the post, twice in a row.

Assam swearing-in LIVE

The former Congress politician won from the Jalukbari constituency, marking his sixth consecutive win from the seat, with a vote share of approximately 74%.

Here’s a look at Himanta Biswa Sarma’s political career through the years. 

1988: Mr Sarma was elected as the General Secretary of Cotton College Students’ Union multiple times until 1991. 

1991: Mr Sarma joins the Indian National Congress as the then Chief Minister, Congress leader Hiteshwar Saikia, who sought a young leader to bring the youth segment back to the party, which had been driven away. 

1996: Congress fielded Himanta Biswa Sarma against Bhrigu Kumar Phukar in the Jalukbari constituency. He lost the election, but it established his political foundation. 

2001: First assembly victory: Mr Sarma secured his first electoral victory from Jalukbari, defeating Asom Gana Parishad leader Bhrigu Phukan. 

2002: On June 7, 2002, Himantas Sarma was given the portfolio of Agriculture, Planning, and Development as part of the first Tarun Gogoi ministry.

2004: On September 1, Himanta Sarma was handed the finance, planning, and development portfolios in the Assam cabinet. 

2006: Himanta Biswa Sarma was re-elected to the State Legislative Assembly and assumed the portfolio of the Health Minister in addition to Finance, Culture, and Public Works under Tarun Gogoi’s second term. 

2011: Himanta Sarma was re-elected for the third term in the 2011 Assembly elections from Jalukbari. Under Congress’s Tarun Gogoi’s third term, Mr Sarma handled the portfolios of Health, Finance, Public Works, Transformation and Development. 

2014: On July 21, Mr Sarma resigned from all positions due to political disagreements, but he continued to remain a member of the Assembly until September 15, 2015.

2015: On August 23, Himanta Sarma joined the Bharatiya Janta Party(BJP) at the residence of Amit Shah in New Delhi.  In September 2015, he was appointed as the Convenor of the Election Management Committee for the 2016 Assembly elections in the state. 

2016: In May, Himanta Sarma won the Jakulbari constituency for the fourth consecutive term. He was sworn into Assam’s cabinet under the BJP’s Sarbananda Sonowal ministry. He was allotted portfolios such as Finance, Health and Family Welfare, Education, Planning and Development, Tourism, Pension and Public Grievances. 

2021: On May 10, Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn in as the 15th Chief Minister of Assam, succeeding Sonowal, who had tendered his resignation the previous day. 

2026: On May 12, he was sworn in as the 15th CM of Assam.

Published - March 26, 2026 04:00 pm IST

Read Entire Article