Sonowal takes charge of Assam

The BJP on Tuesday scripted a new chapter in the history of Indian politics as its leaders formed the first government in the Northeast. Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday was sworn in as the 14th chief minister of Assam by Governor P B Acharya.

Along with Sonowal, eight Cabinet minsters and two ministers of state with independent charge were also sworn in.

The rest of Sonowal’s council of ministers will be sworn in later. Among those cabinet ministers who were sworn in on Tuesday is Himanta Biswa Sarma, who was BJP’s poll manager in Assam. He had been a key minister earlier in the Gogoi regime.

At the ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Amit Shah, top leaders of the party and key Union ministers along with chief ministers of 13 states were present.

Also present were veteran BJP leader L K Advani, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, who ruled the state for three straight terms. 

Apart from Sarma, former BJP state president Ranjit Dutta and former Assam minister and top BJP leader Chandramohan Patowary were also administered oath.

Two cabinet ministers each from allies AGP and BPF, too, were sworn in. While AGP’s working president Atul Bora and senior leaders Keshab Mahanta were inducted into the Cabinet, BPF’s Pramila Rani Brahma and Rihon Diamary were also administered oath of office and secrecy. Long time BJP leader from southern Assam, Parimal Sukla Baidya, was also made a Cabinet minister and sworn in on Tuesday. The two debutants who were sworn in as ministers of state are Pallab Lochan Das of the BJP and Naba Kumar Doley of the AGP.

The state had registered a record turnout in the two phased Assembly polls last April. The results declared on May 19 gave an overwhelming mandate in favour of the BJP and its rainbow alliance.

“In Assam, different communities live but we are bounded by cultures and customs. Today, we remember the martyrs of Assam agitation. We have to work together. People who voted us to power should now be the supreme judge of our work. If we go wrong they will rectify us.  We will unite the Brahmaputra and Barak valley and build a better Assam. We will make sure that people don’t lose trust on us”, Sonowal said.