Guwahati, May 22 (PTI): Sarbananda Sonowal was today unanimously elected as BJP Legislature Party leader in Assam, paving the way for his becoming next chief minister of the state.
In the first meeting of the BJP legislators after the Assembly polls, party MLA Himanta Biswa Sarma proposed Sonowal's name as their leader in the House.
MLAs P Phukan, Atul Bora, Angoorlata Dela, Bhabesh Kalita and AC Jain supported Sonowal's name.
Union Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot, who attended the meeting as an Observer from the BJP central unit, declared Sonowal elected unanimously as the Legislature Party leader.
Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his support, Sonowal said, "We have the spirit of unity and we have to live up to the people's expectations."
Talking about his meeting with Modi yesterday, Sonowal said the Prime Minister has asked everyone to work honestly for development of all sections of the society.
"He (Modi) said we have got a scope to work for all. He is there for us in our every need. We have to complete the unfinished work," Sonowal said.
He said the BJP winning 60 seats in Assam on its own was "completely unexpected for him".
"People wholeheartedly gave their mandate in our favour.
Nothing can be better than this. We have a big responsibility now," he added.
After the meeting, when asked by media about his priorities, Sonowal said implementation of 'Assam Accord' is topmost for him.
He also said there is no discomfort in working with his former senior and AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and he will seek guidance from him.
Sonowal resigns as Union Minister
New Delhi, May 22 (PTI): Assam's Chief Minister designate Sarbananda Sonowal today resigned from the Union Council of Ministers.
The resignation letter of 53-year-old Sonowal was forwarded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the President, who accepted it.
"The President, as advised by the Prime Minister, has accepted the resignation of Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, from the Council of Ministers, with immediate effect.
"Further, as advised by the Prime Minister, the President has directed that Jitendra Singh, Minister of State, shall be assigned the Independent charge of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in addition to his existing portfolios," a Rashtrapati Bhawan communique said.
Assam government will work to tackle illegal immigration: Sonowal
New Delhi, May 22 (IANS): The new BJP-led government in Assam will give top priority to finding a permanent solution to the problem of infiltration of illegal migrants from Bangladesh into the north-eastern state, BJP leader Sarbanand Sonowal has said. "The sealing of borders with Bangladesh will get top priority," Sonowal, who was elected BJP legislature party leader on Sunday, said in an interview to ETV.
He said the issue of "identity crisis" in Assam vis-a-vis bona fide citizens of India and infiltrators from Bangladesh was a matter of concern. However, infiltration had come down "after an agreement with Bangladesh", said a communique from ETV citing Sonowal. The focus of the new government will also be on maintaining law and order in the state and creation of employment opportunities for the youth.
The former union minister said his government will strive to "transform Assam" and insisted that the opposition Congress too will be involved in the developmental process. "There is need for transformation in Assam and we will need the support from everyone in this endeavour," he said. Sonowal, who has resigned as union youth affairs and sports minister, said the new state government will work "as per the wishes of Assam people". "We want to win the hearts of Assam people," Sonowal said.
Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sonowal said: "We won due to his focussed approach towards the north-east. Modi's commitment and good governance model have strengthened the Bharatiya Janata Party in Assam and rooted out the Congress's bad governance."
