Guwahati: In a significant political development, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) legislature party, during its first meeting on Wednesday, unanimously proposed the name of Himanta Biswa Sarma for the position of chief minister to lead the state government for a second consecutive term. The decision came from the 10 newly elected AGP legislators who gathered at the party headquarters in Ambari, Guwahati.
Unanimous Support for Sarma
The meeting, which was attended by senior party leaders and MPs Birendra Prasad Baishya and Phani Bhushan Choudhury as observers, saw AGP president Atul Bora being unanimously chosen as the legislature party leader. Keshab Mahanta, the party's working president, was named deputy leader, while Tapan Das, the party general secretary, was appointed secretary of the legislative party. Dharmeswar Roy was elected as the chief whip.
In a formal statement, the AGP highlighted that the proposal for Sarma's candidacy was based on his “visionary thinking, unparalleled wisdom, and dynamic leadership,” which the party credited for ushering in a new phase of rapid and all-round development across Assam over the past five years. Atul Bora, addressing the media, stated, “In today’s AGP legislature party meeting, the elected members proposed the name of able leader Himanta Biswa Sarma unanimously for the chief minister’s chair for his leadership in bringing a wave of development and growth in every part of the state in the last five years.”
Commitment to Development and Indigenous Rights
Bora further emphasized that all elected members resolved to work tirelessly for fast-paced development in their respective constituencies and across the state. They also pledged to make wholehearted efforts to fulfill the long-pending demands of Assam’s indigenous people. The AGP, which was formed after the six-year-long anti-foreigners movement (1979-1985) against illegal influx and for safeguarding the rights of indigenous tribes and communities, has been an alliance partner of the BJP-led government in Assam since 2016.
Electoral Performance and Alliance Strength
In the recently concluded assembly elections, the AGP contested 26 seats as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and secured victories in 10 of them. This marks an improvement from the nine seats it won in the 2021 assembly polls. The party's performance underscores its continued relevance and influence in Assam's political landscape.
Following the NDA's victory in the 2026 assembly polls, several prominent BJP leaders, including state BJP president Dilip Saikia, Jayanta Mallabaruah, R Rabindra Raju, Rituparna Baruah, Ashok Bhattarai, Queen Oja, and Rekharani Das Boro, visited the AGP headquarters. This move is seen as an effort to further strengthen the alliance between the two parties, ensuring a cohesive and united front for governance in the state.
