Assam is a state in northeastern India, sharing borders with Bhutan, Bangladesh, and several other Indian states. Since independence in 1947, the Chief Ministers of Assam have led the state through three decades of Congress rule, a turbulent period of ethnic agitation, a phase of regional party governance, and, more recently, a shift to BJP leadership. This article lists every Chief Minister of Assam from 1950 to 2026, with their party, tenure, and key milestones.
Himanta Biswa Sarma is the current Chief Minister of Assam. He has held the office since May 10, 2021. He secured a consecutive term following the May 2026 state elections. Gopinath Bordoloi was the first Chief Minister of the state. He officially assumed the title on January 26, 1950, when the Constitution of India came into effect.
The political history of Assam spans eight decades. During this time, 15 different individuals have served as Chief Minister. The Indian National Congress dominated the early political landscape of the state. The party held uninterrupted power from 1947 until 1978.
In 1978, Golap Borbora of the Janata Party became the first non-Congress Chief Minister. The 1980s brought significant political shifts. Regional movements led to the formation of the Asom Gana Parishad. This regional party governed the state for two terms under the leadership of Prafulla Kumar Mahanta.
The modern era of Assam politics features strong and stable tenures. Tarun Gogoi of the Congress party governed for 15 consecutive years from 2001 to 2016. In 2016, the Bharatiya Janata Party formed the state government for the first time with Sarbananda Sonowal. The BJP has maintained its leadership through the 2026 elections under Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Did You Know:
Prafulla Kumar Mahanta became the Chief Minister of Assam in 1985 at just 32 or 33 years old. He was a prominent student leader who signed the historic Assam Accord. This achievement makes him one of the youngest Chief Ministers in the history of independent India.
Chief Ministers of Assam: Complete List
The following table lists the Chief Ministers of Assam, based on official data from the Government of Assam. It lists the exact dates as served by each of the chief ministers.
| No. | Name | Political Party | Tenure Dates |
| 1 | Gopinath Bordoloi | Indian National Congress | 26 Jan 1950 to 06 Aug 1950 |
| 2 | Bishnuram Medhi | Indian National Congress | 09 Aug 1950 to 27 Dec 1957 |
| 3 | Bimala Prasad Chaliha | Indian National Congress | 28 Dec 1957 to 06 Nov 1970 |
| 4 | Mahendra Mohan Choudhury | Indian National Congress | 11 Nov 1970 to 30 Jan 1972 |
| 5 | Sarat Chandra Singha | Indian National Congress | 31 Jan 1972 to 12 Mar 1978 |
| 6 | Golap Borbora | Janata Party | 12 Mar 1978 to 04 Sep 1979 |
| 7 | Jogendra Nath Hazarika | Janata Party | 09 Sep 1979 to 11 Dec 1979 |
| 8 | Syeda Anwara Taimur | Indian National Congress | 06 Dec 1980 to 30 Jun 1981 |
| 9 | Kesab Chandra Gogoi | Indian National Congress | 13 Jan 1982 to 19 Mar 1982 |
| 10 | Hiteswar Saikia | Indian National Congress | 27 Feb 1983 to 23 Dec 1985 |
| 11 | Prafulla Kumar Mahanta | Asom Gana Parishad | 24 Dec 1985 to 28 Nov 1990 |
| 12 | Hiteswar Saikia | Indian National Congress | 30 Jun 1991 to 22 Apr 1996 |
| 13 | Bhumidhar Barman | Indian National Congress | 22 Apr 1996 to 14 May 1996 |
| 14 | Prafulla Kumar Mahanta | Asom Gana Parishad | 15 May 1996 to 17 May 2001 |
| 15 | Tarun Gogoi | Indian National Congress | 17 May 2001 to 24 May 2016 |
| 16 | Sarbananda Sonowal | Bharatiya Janata Party | 24 May 2016 to 10 May 2021 |
| 17 | Himanta Biswa Sarma | Bharatiya Janata Party | 10 May 2021 to Present |
Note: The list features 15 unique individuals because Hiteswar Saikia and Prafulla Kumar Mahanta each served two non-consecutive terms. Gopinath Bordoloi served as Premier of Assam from 1946 until the title changed to Chief Minister in 1950. A few brief periods of President’s Rule occurred between some of these tenures.
ALSO READ: List of Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu [1920-2026]
Quick Facts for Students
1. First Chief Minister: Gopinath Bordoloi
2. Longest Serving: Tarun Gogoi (15 years)
3. First Female: Syeda Anwara Taimur (1980 to 1981)
4. First Non-Congress: Golap Borbora (1978)
5. Youngest CM of Assam: Prafulla Kumar Mahanta (took office at age 32)
6. Current CM of Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma
Who is the longest serving Chief Minister of Assam?
Tarun Gogoi is the longest serving Chief Minister in Assam’s history. He held the position for 15 consecutive years from 2001 to 2016.
Has Assam ever had a female Chief Minister?
Yes. Syeda Anwara Taimur is the only female Chief Minister of Assam. She served from December 1980 to June 1981.
Who is the current Chief Minister of Assam?
Himanta Biswa Sarma is the current Chief Minister. He first assumed office on May 10, 2021, and is set for a second term after winning the Assembly Elections 2026.
