BJP’s Assam hat-trick: Has Himanta settled scores with Congress, finally?

May 4, 2026 | 22:39 IST

Widely credited with expanding the BJP’s footprint in Assam and across the Northeast after switching from the Congress in 2015, Sarma has played a key role in significantly weakening the grand old party in the state

In July 2014, an ambitious Himanta Biswa Sarma — then a Congress heavyweight — resigned from his ministerial post in Assam after party leader Rahul Gandhi reportedly declined to make him chief minister, despite his claim of backing from 52 legislators.

Feeling humiliated, he switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a year later, along with a group of loyal MLAs. He assured the party’s leadership that he would “dedicate his energy to BJP’s Mission 84” and that his duty would be to ensure the Congress was routed.

TOI

TOI

BJP’s Assam hat-trick: Has Himanta settled scores with Congress, finally?

Widely credited with expanding the BJP’s footprint in Assam and across the Northeast after switching from the Congress in 2015, Sarma has played a key role in significantly weakening the grand old party in the state

{{{h1}}}

{{{h1}}}

{{{h3}}}

{{{offerprice}}}

{{{h3}}}

{{{offerprice}}}

{{{h1}}}

{{{h1}}}

{{{h1}}}

{{h2}}

{{{h1}}}

{{h2}}

{{{h1}}}

{{h2}}

Your Privacy is Important to us

Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information

TOI

BJP’s Assam hat-trick: Has Himanta settled scores with Congress, finally?

Widely credited with expanding the BJP’s footprint in Assam and across the Northeast after switching from the Congress in 2015, Sarma has played a key role in significantly weakening the grand old party in the state

{{{h1}}}

{{{h1}}}

{{{h3}}}

{{{offerprice}}}

{{{h3}}}

{{{offerprice}}}

{{{h1}}}

{{{h1}}}

{{{h1}}}

{{h2}}

{{{h1}}}

{{h2}}

{{{h1}}}

{{h2}}