Rajen Gohain

Guwahati, June 16: The BJP has begun its search for a new president for its Assam unit after its present incumbent, Sarbananda Sonowal’s induction into the Narendra Modi government as minister of state for sports and youth welfare.

Sources said though names of five leaders are being discussed for the president’s post, Nagaon MP Rajen Gohain and state BJP spokesperson Prodyut Bora have so far emerged as the front-runners.

Others who are in contention for the top post are Assam BJP vice-president Siddhartha Bhattacharya, Sorbhog MLA Ranjit Kumar Das and national secretary of Kisan Morcha Palit Bora.

“After becoming a Union minister, Sonowal will have to relinquish the post of state president following the principle of one-man-one-post. As Sonowal’s resignation has become imminent, intense lobbying has started for the state president’s post,” a BJP source said.

As the race intensifies, so does the speculation.

The source said the party top brass is actively considering the name of Gohain because despite being a four-time MP, he could not be accommodated in the ministry.

“Gohain, however, may lose out in the race if the party high command decides to go for a new face because he had already served as the state BJP president,” the source said.

“Prodyut Bora is also a strong contender as he is a young leader who is known to be close to some of the party’s central leaders. Siddhartha Bhattacharya and Ranjit Kumar Das are also not far behind,” he said.

“Whoever becomes the next president, the most important task before him will be the 2016 Assembly polls.”

The BJP high command is expected to finalise the name of Sonowal’s successor only after deciding who will replace Rajnath Singh as the national president of the party since Singh has been inducted into the Union government as home minister.

“The process is likely to take another 15 to 20 days,” the source said. He added that apart from Assam, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are also scheduled to get new state party presidents as the present ones have been inducted as Union ministers.

Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan has become Union health minister, Madhya Pradesh party chief Narendra Singh Tomar is minister for steel, mines and labour and Chhattisgarh BJP president Vishnu Deo Sai is minister of state for steel and mines.