People gave historic mandate to NDA for progress in Assam, says AGP chief Atul Bora

Guwahati, May 12 (IANS) Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) chief Atul Bora, who will take an oath as a Minister in the new Assam government on Monday, expressed gratitude to the people of the state for delivering a “historic mandate” to the NDA for the third consecutive time.

He also thanked Himanta Biswa Sarma for including him in the Cabinet.

The swearing-in ceremony of Himanta Biswa Sarma as the Chief Minister of Assam for a second consecutive term is being held in Khanapara, Guwahati. This is the second time Sarma will take oath as the Chief Minister of Assam, while it is the third consecutive time that a BJP-led government is being formed in the state.

In addition to Sarma, four ministers will also take the oath of office — two from the BJP and one each from their allies, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF).

These include Rameswar Teli, Atul Bora from AGP, Charan Boro from BPF, and Ajanta Neog. Ranjeet Kumar Dass, a former minister and prominent BJP figure, will represent the NDA as the candidate for the role of Speaker of the state Assembly.

Speaking to the reporters, Atul Bora said, “Today is a historic day as once again the NDA government is going to take oath for the third time. Our respected Prime Minister, Home Minister, and the national president of the BJP will be present. Industrialists and Ambassadors have also arrived, and people from various states are coming.”

“In the last five years, the way our Chief Minister has worked for the development of the state has been remarkable. For the development and progress of the state, the people of Assam have given a historic mandate to the NDA. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to the people of Assam,” he added.

“I thank the CM for the responsibility he has given me,” Bora added.

Several senior leaders, including Union Ministers and Chief Ministers from National Democratic Alliance-ruled states, have started arriving in Assam to attend the ceremony.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, as well as BJP National President Nitin Nabin, will also be present during the oath-taking event, which Bharatiya Janata Party leaders have described as a major political occasion for the party in the Northeast.

Notably, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor have also arrived in Guwahati for the oath ceremony.

Additionally, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai, Meghalaya Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari will also attend the swearing-in of the newly-elected government in Assam.

The NDA, comprising the BJP, AGP and BPF, secured a landmark victory in the recently concluded Assembly elections in the state, winning 102 seats in the 126-member House.

The BJP alone won 82 Assembly seats, while AGP and BPF won 10 seats each.

–IANS

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