Chief Minister of Assam

Chief Minister of Assam (Assam Mukhya Mantri)
Incumbent Sarbananda Sonowal since 24 May 2016
Appointer	Governor of Assam
Inaugural holder	Gopinath Bordoloi
Formation	11 February 1946

The Chief Minister of Assam, a northeast Indian state, is the head of the Government of Assam. As per the Constitution of India, the governor is the state's de jure head, but de facto executive authority rests with the chief minister. Following elections to the Assam Legislative Assembly, the governor usually invites the party (or coalition) with a majority of seats to form the government. The governor appoints the chief minister, whose council of ministers are collectively responsible to the assembly. Given that he has the confidence of the assembly, the chief minister's term is for five years and is subject to no term limits.

Since 1946, Assam has had 14 chief ministers. Ten of these belonged to the Indian National Congress, including Gopinath Bordoloi, the first Chief Minister of Assam, and Anwara Taimur, India's first female Muslim chief minister. Congressman Tarun Gogoi is the longest-serving officeholder, having served for 15 years from 2001 to 2016. Current incumbent Sarbananda Sonowal became the Assam's first chief minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party when he was sworn-in on 24 May 2016.