Assam’s chief minister-designate Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday resigned from the Union council of ministers.
Assam’s chief minister-designate Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday 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 Bhavan communiqué said.
Mr Sonowal was elected BJP Legislature Party leader at a meeting of the newly-elected MLAs in Guwahati on Sunday afternoon and has been invited by governor P.B. Acharya to form the government.
In Sunday’s Mann ki baat radio programme, the Prime Minister praised Mr Sonowal for taking time out to visit NIS Patiala to check on the sportspersons’ training for the Rio Olympics despite elections in Assam.
“There were polls, he was a CM candidate but performed his duty as a sports minister. This is a big thing,” the Prime Minister said.
Meanwhile, Mr Sonowal on Sunday requested outgoing chef minister Tarun Gogoi to take part in his swearing-in ceremony to be held on May 24 here.
Mr Sonowal visited Mr Gogoi at his official residence in Koinadhara area of the city on Sunday afternoon and invited him to the oath-taking function to be held at Khanapara field.
Mr Sonowal also sought Gogoi’s advice, goodwill and blessings, the CMO said in a statement. Mr Gogoi accepted Mr Sonowal’s invitation and said he would attend the swearing-in ceremony and also conveyed good wishes to him, the CMO said.
Sonowal began his political career with the All Assam Students Union before moving to AGP and later to BJP in 2011. He was made president of the Assam unit of the BJP in 2012. He was declared BJP’s chief ministerial candidate in January 2016.
