Guwahati : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday unveiled an ambitious economic roadmap for the state, setting a target of transforming Assam into a Rs 10 lakh crore economy by 2028 while aiming to reduce the Below Poverty Line (BPL) population to just 2-3 per cent over the next five years.

Replying to the Motion of Thanks on the Governor’s Address in the Assam Assembly, Sarma described the NDA’s sweeping electoral mandate as a strong endorsement of the government’s development-oriented governance model.

Highlighting the scale of the alliance’s victory, the Chief Minister said the NDA secured 102 Assembly seats and crossed the one crore vote mark in the state. According to him, BJP candidates polled more than 81.92 lakh votes, while its allies – the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) – secured 14 lakh and 8 lakh votes respectively.

“The NDA swept all Scheduled Tribe reserved seats and tea tribe-dominated constituencies, while winning all but one seat reserved for the Scheduled Caste community,” Sarma said.

Focusing on Assam’s economic transformation, the Chief Minister cited NITI Aayog data to claim that nearly 35 per cent of the state’s population had moved out of poverty in recent years, contributing to the rise of a growing middle class.

“The emergence of a strong middle class is creating educated youth and stronger professionals,” he said, adding that poverty alleviation remained central to Assam’s long-term growth strategy.

Sarma said Assam’s current BPL population stands at around 17 per cent, but expressed confidence that the figure could be reduced to between 2 and 3 per cent within five years.

The Chief Minister also highlighted improvements in healthcare indicators, particularly maternal mortality. He said Assam’s maternal mortality ratio, which stood at 480 when he took charge as Health Minister in 2016, has now dropped to 84, according to the Sample Registration System report.

Describing the achievement as a major public health milestone, Sarma said it reflected broader improvements in governance and healthcare delivery across the state.

On the industrial front, the Chief Minister pointed to several flagship projects that he said would redefine Assam’s economic profile, including the semiconductor plant at Jagiroad, the fertiliser manufacturing unit at Namrup and the proposed thermal power project at Chapar.

Sarma also outlined the government’s infrastructure and education expansion plans. Assam currently has 14 medical colleges, with 11 more in various stages of development, he said. Reiterating the government’s long-term vision, Sarma said the state aims to establish one medical college, one engineering college and one university in every district.