Chief Minister of Assam

Chief Minister of Assam
since 10 May 2021
TypeLeader of the Executive
StatusHead of government
AbbreviationCMoAssam
Member of
Reports toGovernor of Assam
Assam Legislative Assembly
ResidenceGuwahati
SeatState Secretariat, Dispur
AppointerGovernor of Assam
by convention based on appointees ability to command confidence in the Legislative Assembly
Term lengthAt the confidence of the assembly
Chief Minister's term is for five years and is subject to no term limits.
PrecursorPremier of Assam
Inaugural holderGopinath Bordoloi
Formation26 January 1950 (1950-01-26)
DeputyDeputy Chief Minister of Assam

The chief minister of Assam, an Indian state, is the head of the government of Assam. As per the Constitution of India, the governor is the state's de jure head, but de facto executive authority rests with the chief minister. Following elections to the Assam Legislative Assembly, the governor usually invites the party (or coalition) with a majority of seats to form the government. The governor appoints the chief minister, whose council of ministers are collectively responsible to the assembly. Given that he has the confidence of the assembly, the chief minister's term is for five years and is subject to no term limits. Chief Minister also serves as Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly.

Since 1946, Assam has had 17 chief ministers. Ten of them belonged to the Indian National Congress, including Gopinath Bordoloi, the first chief minister of Assam, and Anwara Taimur, India's first female Muslim chief minister. Congress party's continuous rule in the state was brought to an end when Golap Borbora led the Janata party to victory in the 1978 elections. Borbora consequently became the first non-Congress chief minister of the state. Prior to that, Borbora was also the first non-Congress leader to be elected to the Rajya Sabha from the state. Congressman Tarun Gogoi is the longest-serving officeholder, having served for 15 years between 2001 and 2016. Sarbananda Sonowal became the first chief minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party, when he was sworn in on 24 May 2016. On 9 May 2021, Himanta Biswa Sarma was announced as the 15th chief minister of Assam.