Sarbananda Sonowal was on Sunday 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 Mr. Sonowal’s name as their leader in the House.
MLAs P. Phukan, Atul Bora, Angoorlata Dela, Bhabesh Kalita and A.C. Jain supported Mr. Sonowal’s name.
Union Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot, who attended the meeting as an observer from the BJP central unit, declared Mr. Sonowal as the Legislature Party leader.
Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his support, Mr. Sonowal said, “We have the spirit of unity and we have to live up to the people’s expectations.”
Talking about his meeting with Mr. Modi yesterday, Mr. Sonowal said the Prime Minister has asked everyone to work honestly for the 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,” Mr. 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, Mr. Sonowal said the implementation of the ‘Assam Accord’ was of topmost priority 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.
