The new government will take oath on Tuesday, 12 May at the Khanapara veterinary college in the presence of the PM, Union ministers and other top diginitaries.Senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma being felicitated by Union Minister JP Nadda, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, BJP president Dilip Saikia, AGP president Atul Bora and others after being elected leader of the NDA Legislature Party in Assam at the BJP party office in Guwahati on Sunday.(@himantabiswa X/ANI Photo)Himanta Biswa Sarma, who was elected as the leader of the BJP-led NDA in the Assam Assembly on Sunday, is set to become the state's chief minister for the second consecutive term.When it comes to power on 12 May, it will be the third successive NDA government in Assam — the saffron party-led government first assumed power in 2016 and was then headed by Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal.Eight BJP legislators, including ministers in the outgoing government – Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Ajanta Neog, Ashok Singhal and Pijush Hazarika – proposed the name of Sarma as its legislature party leader, JP Nadda reportedly said.BJP's partners in the alliance — Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People's Front (BPF) — also supported Sarma's nomination, which led to his unanimous election as the NDA leader, according to news agency PTI. Assam BJP's legislature party met in Guwahati earlier today to elect its leader, with the alliance partners joining soon after.Sarma stakes claimAfter electing Sarma as their leader in the state Assembly, NDA leaders met Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and staked claim to form the government on Sunday.Union Minister J P Nadda and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, appointed as BJP's central observer and co-observer respectively, also went to Lok Bhavan along with Sarma and other NDA leaders."The NDA leaders submitted their claim to form the government. The Governor has received their application, signed by all the three constituent parties," he reportedly said.The NDA had secured a two-thirds majority in the Assembly polls. The BJP bagged 82 seats, while its allies AGP and BPF won 10 each, in the 126-member House.Swearing-in on TuesdayThe new government will take oath on May 12 at the Khanapara veterinary college in the presence of the PM, Union ministers, NDA leaders and other top dignitaries."On May 12, the NDA Council of Ministers will take oath in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I request the people of Assam to continue blessing us in the future as well. We aim to take Assam forward and make it one of the most developed states in the country. I express my gratitude to Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia," Sarma was quoted by PTI as saying.Sarma, who first became chief minister in 2021, is also set to make history by becoming the only non-Congress CM to assume office for two successive terms.He assured that the government will focus on development work over the next five years.About the AuthorLivemintFor about a decade, Livemint—News Desk has been a credible source for authentic and timely news, and well-researched analysis on national news, business, personal finance, corporates, politics and geopolitics. We bring the latest updates on all the listed companies on BSE and NSE, startups, mutual funds, Union ministries, geopolitics, and untapped human interest stories from around the world, helping our readers to stay informed on the latest developments around the globe. Our Coverage Areas 1. Companies: Comprehensive news and analysis on listed and unlisted companies, corporate announcements, corporate chatter, C-suite, business trends, hiring alerts, layoffs, work-life balance, world's top billionaires and richest and more. 2. Personal finance: Insights into mutual funds, small savings schemes like - PPF, SSY, post office savings scheme, stock to watch, personal loans, credit cards, top bank FDs, real estate, income tax and more. 3. Politics: Comprehensive coverage of general elections, state elections and bypo
A Bengaluru-based entrepreneur has sparked a discussion on social media after sharing her experience of struggling to buy a home in India before eventually purchasing a three-bedroom house in the United Kingdom.Neha Sharma, an Amazon tech professional and founder of JSLovers, posted on X about the sharp contrast she experienced between the housing markets in Bengaluru and the UK. Her comments on affordability, transparency and alleged demands for “black money” during property deals in India quickly drew attention online.“In Bangalore, with 2 people's salary we had hard time to buy a flat (later we cancelled it),” Sharma wrote in her post.People also askAI powered insights from this story•5 QUESTIONSThe entrepreneur found it challenging to buy a flat in Bengaluru even with two incomes due to high property prices and potentially opaque dealings. In contrast, she was able to purchase a three-bedroom house in the UK within two years, citing a smoother and more transparent buying process.The entrepreneur highlighted that in the UK, there were no demands for 'black money' or unaccounted cash transactions, and the process was 100% transparent. She also mentioned receiving a 'first buyer' discount.One user pointed out that the UK typically requires a 5% down payment with a 5% interest rate, making it easier to buy. In India, the down payment is often 20% with a minimum interest rate of 8%.Young professionals in Indian metro cities often struggle with rising property prices, high down payments, and home loan interest rates, making home ownership financially difficult.Even with a high salary, expenses like EMIs for homes and cars, school fees, domestic help, groceries, utilities, and lifestyle choices can lead to zero savings by the end of the month in expensive cities like Bengaluru.Sharma said that despite having two incomes while living in Bengaluru, buying even a flat felt financially difficult. She contrasted that with her experience in the UK, where she said she managed to purchase an independent three-bedroom house within two years of relocating.According to her post, the UK home-buying process felt smoother and significantly more transparent.“2 years after moving to UK bought an independent 3 bed house, with all kitchen appliances - gas, fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, oven, carpet , lighting, etc. with backyard , good views, and parking,” she wrote.The founder’s comparison resonated with several users online, especially amid ongoing conversations around rising housing prices in Indian metro cities such as Bengaluru, Mumbai and Gurgaon.‘No One Asked For Black Money’One part of Sharma’s post that particularly caught social media users’ attention was her statement about transparency in the UK property market.“No one asked for black money. 100% transparency,” she wrote.She also mentioned receiving a “first buyer” discount while purchasing the house in the UK.In India, the term “black money” is commonly used to describe unaccounted cash transactions that are allegedly involved in some property deals. Concerns about such practices in the real estate sector have frequently surfaced in public debates around housing affordability and transparency.A 2017 policy paper published by the Pune International Centre had described politics and real estate as among the key “sources and sinks of black money in India”.Social Media DebateSharma’s post quickly triggered mixed reactions online, with users discussing everything from mortgage systems and interest rates to the emotional challenges of living abroad.One user pointed out that buying property in the UK also comes with its own pressures.“Sigh! The timing of the tweet. Am talking to a friend in UK bought 2 small units now struggling with mortgage. Got ill, no support. Loneliness has spiralled to clincal depression, dreams one day of returning to India,” the user wrote.Another person compared housing loan structures in the two countries.“The reason why it’s easier to buy a house in the UK
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