From Cotton College Firebrand Leader To Assam CM For Second Consecutive Term: Himanta Biswa Sarma's Political Rise

Himanta Biswa Sarma took oath as the Chief Minister of Assam on Tuesday for the second consecutive following Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) massive victory in the 2026 Assembly election. Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath to Sarma at the swearing-in event in Guwahati. Sarma is one of the most influential leaders in the state and is also the face of the sustainable governance model. 

Himanta Entered Politics At The Age Of 19

Himanta Biswa Sarma was born on February 1, 1969 to Kailash Nath Sharma and Mrinalini Devi in Jorhat, Assam. Himanta began his political career at Cotton College, where even the student union elections became important news in the state. When 19-year-old Himanta arrived at Cotton College, he began preparing for the elections as a special guest. Gradually, he became a topic of discussion from the hostel corridors to the tea shops.

Significance Of Cotton College In Himanta's Life

Established in 1901, this college has been a centre of student movements, from the creation of Assam as a state to the protests against Bengali immigrants. Looking at the personalities it has produced, it seems that half the history of Assamese politics is contained in its registers.

Cotton College, located in the heart of Assam’s Guwahati is the oldest higher educational institution in the Northeast. The extent of Cotton College's influence on Assamese politics can be gauged from the fact that seven of Assam's 15 Chief Ministers have been students of this college. It's not just a degree, it also provides the necessary political lessons that can propel a student to the highest levels of state politics.

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Himanta Won Student Union Election

Himanta's name was on everyone's lips at the Cotton college. He was widely known for his dynamic, assertive, and firebrand oratory skills. By staking his claim for the most influential position - General Secretary, in the student union election, he not only won the election for AASU, considered the most powerful organisation in the state, but also demonstrated the profound impact of micro-level planning.

Himanta has been a pivotal figure in Assam and Northeast politics for the past two decades, having won many elections and even helped others win them. However, he describes the 1987 student union elections as the biggest election campaign of his life.

Subsequently, he was elected General Secretary of Cotton College three times until 1992. After becoming General Secretary of Cotton College, Himanta Biswa Sarma became closer to leaders like Prafulla Mahanta and Bhrigu Phukan. Himanta's association with Mahanta and Phukan was not new.

Himanta Is Known As 'Wonder Boy' In Assam

Himanta Sarma is known as the ‘Wonder Boy’ of the Assam student movement. However, he never joined the Asom Gana Parishad. To further his political career, Himanta later joined the Congress party and sought the mentorship of then-Chief Minister Hiteshwar Saikia. Saikia, like Himanta and Prafulla Mahanta, was a student of Cotton College.

Hiteswar Saikia, who became Chief Minister for the second time in 1991, was looking for a young leader who could reconnect with the Congress party, the youth who had drifted away during the Assam Movement, and his search ended with Himanta. Saikia had bet on a young man who was ambitious and willing to take on trouble.

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Himanta Contested First Assembly Election In 1996

In 1994, Himanta was appointed a member of the Student and Youth Welfare Advisory Committee. In the 1996 assembly elections, the Congress fielded him against Bhrigu Phukan in Jalakubari. While Himanta lost his first election, it was his first and only defeat. After his defeat, Himanta met Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao. Rao offered him a piece of advice: a defeated candidate should not abandon his constituency.

Himanta took this seriously. Despite losing, he remained active in the Jalakubari Assembly. As a result, in 2001, Congress again gave him a ticket from the Jalakubari seat in Guwahati. This time, Himanta created an upset by defeating his mentor and veteran leader Bhrigu Phukan. This way, he reached the Assembly for the first time, and the Jalakubari seat became his permanent residence.

Himanta Became MLA 5 Times From 2001 To 2021

From 2001 to 2021, Himanta has been elected MLA from the Jalkubari constituency five times in a row, with a steadily increasing margin. Having won his first election by 10,000 votes, Himanta won by 110,000 votes in 2021. It was from this constituency that he made his journey from MLA to Chief Minister, but it wasn't an easy one.

Himanta Was Once Gogoi's Closest Associates

After Hiteswar Saikia's death in 1996, a Congress government was formed in Assam in 2001. Tarun Gogoi became Chief Minister, and first-time MLA Himanta Biswa Sarma was given the green light. Tarun Gogoi held power in the state for the next 15 years, and Himanta continued to rise in the ranks year after year. In the Gogoi government, he held key portfolios such as Finance, Health, and Education, becoming the Chief Minister's most trusted minister.

He was Gogoi's most trusted man for dealing with ULFA, implementing the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan mission, developing the health sector, and other development projects. He also served as a troubleshooter and manager for the Gogoi government. Himanta remained active not only in his constituency but also within the government.

He even had a strong say in the party's organisation. His strategies during the 2006 assembly elections were praised. In 2011, he also managed the Congress election campaign, helping the party win 78 out of 126 seats.

During this period, he was seen as the real force behind the Chief Minister. Not only Tarun Gogoi, but former Chief Ministers Hiteshwar Saikia and Prafulla Mahanta also recognised Himanta's strategic acumen. Working with all three Chief Ministers, Himanta prepared himself for the position he had always desired.

Conflict Began When Gogoi Put Forward His Son's Name

The position of Chief Minister of Assam was the starting point for the conflict. He began positioning himself as the number two in Tarun Gogoi's government. After returning to power in 2011, the conflict became more open.

Sarma had hoped to become the Chief Minister, but that did not happen. Nevertheless, Himanta remained confident that he was the successor to Gogoi. However, when Tarun Gogoi began projecting his son, Gaurav Gogoi, as his successor, the conflict turned into a rebellion.

Himanta Rebelled

Himanta was responsible for the 2011 assembly elections. He expected to be elected Chief Minister if the results were in his favour, but Tarun Gogoi once again became Chief Minister of Assam. Himanta later said that this success had gone to Gogoi's head and he began promoting his son.

Tarun Gogoi's son, Gaurav, had returned from studies abroad. He joined the election campaign in 2011 and formally joined the Congress in 2012. Gradually, Gogoi Sr began projecting his son as his successor. This was a direct challenge to Himanta's ambitions.

Himanta Resigned In 2014

Meanwhile, Himanta filed an application in Delhi. He met with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who listened to him. Both Sonia Gandhi and Ahmed Patel favored a leadership change, meaning they favoured handing power in Assam to Himanta, but party Vice President Rahul Gandhi disagreed.

Himanta had multiple meetings with Sonia and Rahul between 2013 and 2014. It was during this time that the Narendra Modi government registered a landslide victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. PM Modi’s wave affected Assam as well, where Congress just bagged 3 out of 14 seats and suffered a massive setback in the municipal election after that.

In July 2024, Himanta along with 38 MLAs resigned. "I have no confidence in Tarun Gogoi's leadership. We are fighting for our party, and under Gogoi's leadership, Congress's seat count will dwindle to single digits in 2016,” he said, opposing the leadership.

Himanta's Entry Into BJP

Many allegations were levelled against Himanta but he formally joined the BJP on August 21, 2015 as Amit Shah agreed for his nomination.

Following this, assembly elections were held in 2016. With an unprecedented mandate, the BJP formed the government in Assam for the first time. One of Himanta's goals, that of ousting Tarun Gogoi from power, was achieved. However, his wait was still far from over. He had to wait five more years for this.

Himanta Became CM For First Time In 2021

Then came the historic day of his life: May 10, 2021. Years of waiting were over. Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn in as the 15th Chief Minister of Assam at the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati.

After becoming Chief Minister, Himanta's rise was rapid. His stance as a Hindutva leader became clearly visible in his statements and working style.