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BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma will take oath as chief minister of Assam on Tuesday, along with four ministers – two from the saffron party and one each from its allies AGP and BPF.

This will be the third NDA government in Assam, to be led by Sarma as the chief minister for the second consecutive term, the only non-Congress CM to achieve the feat in the state.

Former minister and senior BJP leader Ranjeet Kumar Dass will be the NDA’s candidate for the position of Speaker of the state Assembly, Sarma said in a post on X.

“Happy to announce that the following four colleagues of mine will take oath as Ministers tomorrow along with me in the august presence of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji - Shri Rameswar Teli Shri Atul Bora Shri Charan Boro Smt Ajanta Neog,” the CM-designate said.

Bora is the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president and Boro is a Bodoland People's Front (BPF) MLA, and both were ministers in the previous NDA government.

Neog was also a minister in the previous government. Teli is a former Union Minister of State who returned to state politics in the 2026 polls.

“I am also happy to share that Shri Ranjit Das, Hon'ble MLA, will be our candidate for the post of Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly (sic),” Sarma said.

Dass was the Speaker initially when the BJP-led NDA secured power in the state for the first time in 2016. He has been a minister in the state cabinet in both the previous governments since.

“My heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all of them. Together, we will continue to work with full dedication for a stronger, more developed and prosperous Assam,” Sarma added.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday directed the authorities concerned to crack down on alleged syndicate operations, illegal sand and coal mining, and cattle smuggling across the state, an official at the state secretariat said.

In a meeting, Adhikari stressed the need for stricter monitoring of illegal activities and asked authorities to ensure that governance remains free from political vendetta.

He also instructed police officers to dismantle the alleged “syndicate raj” operating in different areas and ordered immediate action against illegal sand mining and coal extraction.

The chief minister gave special instructions to the officials in Birbhum, asking the administration to maintain close vigilance in the district, the official said.

“He (Adhikari) also directed officials to verify beneficiaries under the 100-day rural employment scheme and identify cases where people may have allegedly withdrawn money using fraudulent job cards without working,” the official said.

Sources said the chief minister asked officials in border districts to maintain strict surveillance against illegal cattle smuggling and ensure that such activities are stopped immediately.

Police officers were further directed to maintain communication with leaders of all political parties, including the Opposition, whenever required for administrative work.

The Enforcement Directorate on Monday arrested former West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress leader Sujit Bose in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged municipality recruitment scam in the state, officials said.

The central agency took Sujit Bose (63) into custody under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after his day-long questioning at its CGO Complex office in Salt Lake in Kolkata, they said.

This was the first major arrest of a TMC leader since the Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP government took charge of the state’s administration on Saturday.

CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby on Monday took a swipe at the Congress-led UDF over the ongoing tussle for leadership positions in Kerala, saying the coalition's internal divisions had been "thoroughly exposed".

Talking to PTI Videos, Baby said a decision on the name of the leader of opposition (LoP) in Kerala would be decided by the CPI(M)'s state unit at an appropriate time.

“In fact, we need to discuss the LoP in Kerala when there is some guarantee that there is going to be a chief minister and the Assembly session is being convened,” the CPI(M) general secretary said.

Taking a dig at the Congress over the leadership race, Baby said the developments reflected a "very strange situation" within the party.

"They claim that this is a United Democratic Front, UDF; but there is no unity at the top level of the leading party of the UDF, which is the Congress," he said.

Baby also mocked the frequent consultations between Kerala and Delhi amid the leadership discussions.

"Dozens of people are flying from Kerala to Delhi and back to Thiruvananthapuram. So, it is benefiting only various airlines. People are not having any benefit," he said.

He also claimed that the Congress-led governments in the state had often witnessed destabilisation arising from factional rivalries.

"Anyway, we will wait and see how it will evolve in the coming days," he added.

West Bengal Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari on Monday asked senior officials to ensure transparency, accountability and strict adherence to rules in governance, news agency PTI reported citing “a well-placed source”.

A day after assuming office as the BJP's first chief minister in the state, Adhikari chaired his first administrative review meeting at the state secretariat Nabanna.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala, Home Secretary Sanghamitra Ghosh and secretaries and principal secretaries of all departments.

During the meeting, Adhikari told officials not to repeatedly mention “By the inspiration of the chief minister” in every official matter to please him.

Adhikari also stressed that officers would be held accountable for lapses in their respective departments and warned against unnecessary expenditures.

“You can spend where necessary, but there should be no wastage of public money,” the chief minister told officials, according to sources.

Adhikari also made it clear that the government would function by giving officers their due dignity and space to work professionally. At the same time, any proven complaint against an official would invite action. “If any allegation against an officer is proved, action will be taken,” he told officials.

The CM said that he does not believe in publicly reprimanding bureaucrats at government programmes in front of the media. However, officials responsible for mistakes would have to take responsibility for their actions.

To ensure smoother coordination, Adhikari directed the creation of a common communication group, likely via WhatsApp or email, which would include the chief secretary and secretaries of all departments. Adhikari himself is also expected to be part of the group, sources said.

Officials were encouraged to communicate directly with the chief minister or the chief secretary whenever required and to express their opinions freely on matters related to governance and development.

“If you have any suggestions, give them without fear. I will consider,” Adhikari told the secretaries during the meeting.

According to sources, Adhikari also referred to alleged administrative shortcomings during the previous Trinamool Congress government.

“For years, many of you only agreed with whatever was said. Now I want honest opinions for the development of the state,” Adhikari said.

The chief minister directed officials to immediately restart centrally sponsored schemes that had remained stalled in the state and asked departments to begin implementing promises made in the BJP’s election manifesto in a phased manner.

“There should be less talk and more work,” Adhikari was quoted as saying while discussing the implementation of projects and release of central funds.

“Recruitment has to be done transparently and strictly according to rules,” he reportedly told the education secretary.

Before concluding the meeting, the chief minister assured officials of his support if they worked honestly and without fear.

“Work without fear. I will always stand by those who work sincerely,” he said, according to sources at Nabanna.