India, May 12 -- Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday took oath as the chief minister of Assam for the second consecutive term, days after the northeastern state gave a big mandate to the BJP again. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Veterinary College ground in Khanapara, and among some notable attendees were Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union minister Nitin Gadkari, newly-appointed Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, among others.

Sarma was administered the oath by Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya. The 57-year-old is the first non-Congress leader in the state to assume charge as the CM for a second successive term.

The BJP...