Guwahati

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said his government was committed to ensuring the security and development of the state while fulfilling the promises made in the BJP's election manifesto in "letter and spirit".

In his first official engagement after being sworn in for a second consecutive term, Sarma, accompanied by four cabinet colleagues, visited the memorial of Assam's first CM, Gopinath Bordoloi, and paid floral tributes.

"Our government, before formally beginning work, visited the memorial of Bharat Ratna Gopinath Bordoloi to seek his blessings so that we can continue to work for Assam's security and development," Sarma told reporters.

He said Bordoloi had worked tirelessly for the protection of Assam and the Assamese people before and after Independence.

"We paid tributes to him with the hope that our dream of taking Assam to greater heights is realised," the chief minister said.

Sarma said the new government would formally begin functioning with the first cabinet meeting scheduled in the afternoon.

He also said that the first session of the 16th Assam assembly is likely to be held for three days from May 21, during which newly elected MLAs will take the oath.

On the expansion of his ministry, Sarma said the exercise would be undertaken after the conclusion of the assembly session.

"The government will function with a positive approach, keeping the security and development of Assam, the Assamese people and the nation as its primary goal," he said.

"This is not a new government, but a continuation of the earlier one. We will continue to work wholeheartedly," he added.

The chief minister asserted that the government's focus would be on delivering the promises made in the BJP's election manifesto.

"The time for speeches is over with the end of the elections. People now expect work from us," he said.

READ MORE: Abeda Inamdar left a cushy job to change lives through education, social reform

Referring to the swearing-in ceremony held on Tuesday, Sarma said the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, NDA and non-NDA chief ministers, industrialists and spiritual leaders reflected Assam's growing importance on the national stage.

"Assam is emerging as a centre of development and industrialisation. I am deeply grateful to all who attended and became part of the historic occasion," he said, adding that many people who could not attend the ceremony had nevertheless supported the government and watched the event on television.