Assam Chief Minister-designate Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said the new BJP-led NDA government in the state is likely to have around 18 to 19 ministers in the council of ministers.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the oath-taking ceremony scheduled for May 12, Sarma said discussions regarding the final composition of the cabinet are still underway and no names have been finalised yet.

“There may be around 18-19 ministers, but whether we include new faces or retain experienced ones will depend on the guidance we receive,” Sarma said while responding to questions on cabinet formation.

The swearing-in ceremony of the new Assam government will take place at the Veterinary College ground in Guwahati. Sarma is set to begin his second consecutive term as chief minister after the BJP-led NDA secured a sweeping victory in the Assam Assembly elections.

The NDA won 102 seats in the 126-member Assam Assembly, paving the way for the alliance to form the government for a third straight term in the state.

Sarma also said the new government would continue focusing on Assam’s welfare and development over the next five years, adding that the alliance had received a strong public mandate in the elections.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann suffered a political setback after his cousin Gyan Singh Mann joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in Punjab on Sunday. The development comes at a time when political tensions between the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party have intensified in the state.

Gyan Singh Mann joined the BJP in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and senior BJP leaders. BJP leaders described the move as a sign of growing support for the party in Punjab ahead of upcoming political contests in the state.

The BJP has recently sharpened its attacks on the AAP government over issues including law and order, corruption allegations and political defections. Political friction between the two parties has also increased after recent protests and clashes involving party workers in Punjab.

The latest switch comes amid broader political turbulence for the AAP in Punjab. In recent weeks, the party has faced internal strain following high-profile exits and accusations exchanged between leaders of both parties.

Neither Bhagwant Mann nor the AAP leadership immediately issued a detailed public response to Gyan Singh Mann joining the BJP at the time of reporting.

The Supreme Court on Monday asked former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and several leaders of the All India Trinamool Congress to file fresh petitions regarding constituencies where the number of deleted voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process allegedly exceeded the winning margin in the recent Assembly elections.

The matter is linked to the controversial SIR exercise conducted before the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Opposition parties, especially the TMC, have repeatedly alleged that large-scale deletions from electoral rolls affected the outcome in several closely contested seats.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court reportedly advised the petitioners to move fresh pleas focused on specific constituencies where the disputed deletions were higher than the victory margin. The court’s remarks could pave the way for a closer judicial review of election results in those seats.

The Special Intensive Revision became one of the biggest political flashpoints ahead of the Bengal polls. The exercise led to the removal of a significant number of names from voter lists, triggering allegations from opposition parties that eligible voters had been disenfranchised.

The BJP secured a historic victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections, forming the government in the state for the first time. However, the opposition has continued to question the fairness of the electoral process and the impact of the SIR exercise on poll outcomes.