Guwahati, May 22: Assam governor P.B. Acharya today appointed BJP legislature party leader Sarbananda Sonowal the chief minister of the state.
"By virtue of powers vested in me by Clause (1) of Article 164 of the Constitution of India I, Shri P.B. Acharya, governor of Assam, hereby appoint Shri Sarbananda Sonowal the chief minister of Assam," an order issued from Raj Bhavan today said.
Raj Bhavan sources said Sonowal's appointment would take effect after he takes oath of office on Tuesday.
President Pranab Mukherjee, as advised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today accepted the resignation of Sonowal, minister of state (independent charge) of ministry of youth affairs and sports, from the council of ministers, with immediate effect.
Sonowal met the governor soon after being elected the legislature party leader today. He was accompanied by AGP president Atul Bora and working president Keshab Mahanta and BPF chief Hagrama Mohilary and senior leader Chandan Brahma.
The AGP and BPF, which are allies of the BJP, also submitted their letters of support to the governor.
BJP MPs and other central BJP leaders like Ram Madhav and Mahendra Singh, besides Himanta Biswa Sarma, were part of the contingent that called on the governor. The BJP won 60 seats, four short of majority, while the BPF and AGP won 12 and 14 seats respectively in a House of 126.
The governor asked Sonowal to work for the immediate completion of the work related to National Register of Citizens (NRC), to improve the overall security scenario, identify and deport illegal immigrants, strengthen relations between "tribal and non-tribal" people, improve the education sector and the production and distribution of electricity and increase means of connectivity.
ALL SET FOR SWEARING-IN ON TUESDAY
Parking guidelines
• Vehicles carrying participants from Upper Assam will be guided from Khanapara flyover on National Highway 37 to J. Marbaniang Service Station, Greenwood Resort and Young Construction
• Vehicles carrying participants from lower Assam will be guided from Joyanagar Chariali to the Express Highway and the Six Mile-Panjabari road
• Vehicles carrying participants from lower Assam and Guwahati will be guided from Basistha Chariali to parking lots at Basistha Mandir, Patarkuchi LP School field and Singhal parking (Patarkuchi)
• All light vehicles carrying participants from Guwahati and lower Assam will be guided to Beltola Bihu field, Beltola Bazaar field, Tripura Goli point to NERIM point, Beltola Tiniali to AASC (left side), Dakhin Beltola High School field (via Lakhi mandir), Water Resource Office complex, River Water Research office complex, directorate agricultural office complex and Veterinary College campus
• Participants coming from Zoo Road and GS Road will be routed through Supermarket, Last Gate, BN Saikia Road. After dropping the participants at Basistha Chariali, the vehicles will proceed towards Basistha Mandir/Patarkuchi according to availability of parking
• Participants coming on two-wheelers and bicycles will be guided to Khanapara rotary
Diversions
Heavy commercial vehicles coming from and going to BG Yard will be restricted from 7am till traffic is normalised after the ceremony
All heavy commercial vehicles coming from other parts of the state and other states will be regulated in different parts from 10am till the crowd disperses
No-parking zones
• NH 37 from LGBI Airport to Khanapara
• DG Road from Jalukbari rotary to Bharalumukh
• MG Road from Bharalumukh to Raj Bhavan
• KLB Road
• GNB Road from RBI Point to Guwahati Club
• B. Borooah Road
• GS Road from Volvo point to Khanapara
• Stretch from the main entrance to the Research Gate point (Beltola-Khanapara Road) and GS Road intersection
• Service road of NH 37 from Khanapara to Basistha Chariali
He called for development on all fronts, including the rural areas, and said all development activities should reach the common man.
Emerging from Raj Bhavan, Sarma, who was the convener of the BJP's election management committee, said the party would hand over the list of ministers who are to be sworn in on Tuesday to Acharya tomorrow.
Although Sarma did not divulge details of the proposed ministry, BPF general secretary and Tamulpur MLA Emmanuel Mosahary told The Telegraph that initially the BPF and the AGP will get two berths each in the ministry, which will be raised to four when it will be expanded.
Before meeting the governor, legislature parties of the BJP, AGP and BPF elected Sonowal, Atul Bora and Pramila Rani Brahma as their respective leaders in meetings through the day.
After being elected, Sonowal thanked the party leaders for the "tremendous effort" they had put in to ensure victory of the alliance. "It is because of them that we could create an environment to win the hearts of the people."
He added that all had worked like a "family", which convinced the people that there was deep understanding among them, besides a sense of discipline and direction.
"We will be able to work on the basis of this unity and understanding to meet the aspirations of the people," he said.
Reaching out to the legislators, Sonowal said though they had elected him as the leader, he was just one of them and continue to remain that way. "Our goal is the same," he said. "We are now faced with the task of delivering... it has been a huge mandate and the responsibility is great, but we can."
Sonowal met outgoing chief minister Tarun Gogoi at his official residence at Koinadhara at Khanapara this evening and invited him to attend the swearing-in ceremony. He was accompanied by Ram Madhab and Dibrugarh Lok Sabha MP Rameswar Teli.
Sources said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and both Sonowal and Gogoi discussed some political and social issues in brief.
A BJP source said it was a courtesy call by Sonowal.
Acharya had earlier asked Gogoi to remain as caretaker chief minister till the new government was formed.
Prabajan Virodhi Manch, an NGO, said it would request the new government to adopt a comprehensive approach to ensure that indigenous people do not become minority in the state.
A steering committee meeting of the AGP today discussed the party's position in the new government. Sources said the AGP has demanded five ministerial berths in the new ministry.
