Former Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Sarbananda Sonowal was sworn in as the fourteenth Chief Minister of Assam on Tuesday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Cabinet ministers.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Modi appreciated the role of previous governments at the Centre in developing the country. Three months ago in Parliament, Mr. Modi had blamed the Congress for “planting the roots of poverty” in the country. “I believe after Independence whichever government has come in the past, each government, in its own way, has made efforts to do good to India. Therefore, whatever good has happened, that will be taken forward. And all the deficiencies will be fixed at a faster pace,” said Mr. Modi while addressing the large crowd of BJP supporters.
Change destiny Praising Mr. Sonowal for his “sweet and calm” demeanour, Mr. Modi assured the people that the former would give his best to “change the destiny” of Assam. Placing Assam at the centre of his “act east” policy, Mr. Modi described it as a “great state” and a centre of “Sanskritic awakening” with the power to inspire India on several fronts.
Mr. Sonowal thanked the BJP leadership for steering the campaign to victory, and said the party will have to “free Assam of all the distress.”
Big Delhi team at Sonowal swearing-in
Several Ministers from the Union Cabinet including Venkaiah Naidu, Kiren Rijiju, Nitin Gadkari and Rajnath Singh were present at the swearing in of Mr. Sonowal. BJP chief Amit Shah and senior leader, L.K. Advani also attended the event as did outgoing Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
Ten Ministers took oath along with Mr. Sonowal — six Ministers from the BJP and four from pre-poll allies — two from the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and two from the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF).
In his speech, Mr. Sonowal thanked the BJP leadership, including party general secretary Ram Madhav and Mahendra Singh, for steering the campaign to victory. “I hope the people will support us to advance our State,” he said.
Power centre
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Modi emphasised the need to develop all the corners of the country at a pace that complements the whole and helps India achieve sustainable growth.
The development in the entire Northeast could not only boost the country’s economic engine but can also build influence among India’s eastern neighbours, he said. “For that, Assam will be a power centre,” he said.
