After the massive victory of Assam, BJP chief Amit Shah announced an alliance of non-Congress parties for the development of North Eastern states on Tuesday. In his speech after Mr Sonowal's oath, Prime Minister Narendra Modi set the tone promising that the Centre would extend all assistance to Assam and other north eastern states to ensure their speedy development as part of the Act East Policy.

"Assam will be the centre point to bring about effective all-round development of the entire North East and this region will emerge as a powerfully developed part of the country as a part of our Act East Policy," PM Modi said addressing a lakh-strong crowd and asserting that the country's development could not be led only by western states.

Assam is the first North Eastern state that the BJP will govern. Present at its show of strength in Guwahati yesterday, were Kalikho Pul, chief minister of Arunchal Pradesh, whose government the BJP supports, and also the chief ministers of Sikkim Pawan Chamling and Nagaland, TR Zeliang.

The chief ministers were present at the swearing-in ceremony of Sonowal. BJP national secretary Ram Madhav was also present in the crucial meeting of NDA partners.

One of the architects of BJP’s victory in Assam assembly election, Himanta Biswa Sarma, was appointed convenor of NEDA. “For improving coordination among NDA partners in NE states and strengthening our base in the region, we have formed North East Democratic Alliance today. We will lay emphasis on good governance, speedy development in states where NDA partners are in power in the NE region,” said Sarma after formation of the new alliance.

The region sends 25 lawmakers to Lok Sabha. The BJP has seven - it had won seven of Assam's 14 seats in 2014 - and hopes to ramp up that number substantially in the next elections.