Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal made Assam BJP chief

Though giving Sonowal additional responsibility signals that he will be projected as the possible chief ministerial face, the BJP has not junked Congress Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s former aide and minister Himanta Biswa, who recently joined along with more than half a dozen MLAs.

Summary: GUWAHATI: After the Bihar debacle, BJP has effected a major organizational change for the poll-bound Assam by appointing union minister of state for sports Sarbananda Sonowal as president of BJP in the state. The Assam Assembly elections are likely to be held in March or April next year. Asked how much of an impact the Bihar setback will have on Assam, Mr Sonowal said: “People of Assam are looking for change and they know it can be achieved only through the BJP”.

“Sonowal is a very dynamic leader under whom we had won seven Lok Sabha seats in 2014”.

Bharatiya Janata Party’s national resident Amit Shah has elected Sarbananda Sonowal, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said this.

The appointment for Sonowal, who is Union minister for youth affairs and sports, fuelled speculation of a cabinet reshuffle, which has always been expected. We have to form BJP government here. “I congratulate Sonowal and look forward to winning the assembly election in a big way under his leadership”, Bhattacharyya said.

Shah will attend a party meeting in Dibrugarh on November 27 to gear up his organisation’s election machinery.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already made this clear that at least one Union minister should visit the state every week. The leader added, “There has been growing factionalism in state BJP as there has been growing exodus of leaders from Congress and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) to BJP”.

He said parties like Badruddin Ajmal’s All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Asom Gana Parishad and the Left should all work together in the state. Mr Sonowal, though, downplayed him being the chief ministerial candidate.