Former Assam CM Sonowal likely to be 'accommodated' in Modi's Union Cabinet

GUWAHATI: Former Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal is all set to be inducted into the Indian Union Cabinet, if reports are to be believed.

Sonowal, who represents the Majuli Assembly Constituency, stepped down from the post of chief minister to make way for the dynamic Himanta Biswa Sarma, even though the BJP-led Mitrajoot alliance was able to retain Assam in a crucial election that saw the Congress forge an alliance with Badruddin Ajmal's AIUDF for the first time in its history.

"Since Sonowal was not re-instated as the chief minister of Assam, there are talks that he will be accommodated in the Union Cabinet in an upcoming reshuffle. Similarly, former Congressman Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia is also rumoured to be pegged for a post," a source informed InsideNE.

Sources said that Sonowal will first be made a member of the Rajya Sabha which will eventually pave the way for him to be made a Minister in the Narendra Modi-led Cabinet. A berth is currently vacant after former MP Biswajit Daimary was elected the Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly.

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Meanwhile, there is speculation over who will fill Sonowal's seat in Majuli if the leader departs for Delhi. As per sources, BJP MP Pradan Baruah could possibly contest from the party's side in case there is a by-election to fill the vacant seat. It is also being speculated that Baruah could get a berth in the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led Assam cabinet.

Sonowal, who enjoys wide popularity in Assam as a former president of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU), joined the BJP on 8 February 2011.

Sonowal, the sports minister at the Centre before moving to Assam,  belongs to Assam's indigenous Sonowal-Kachari tribe, has a "good image."

Choosing between Sarbananda Sonowal and Himanta Sarma was a tough choice for the BJP which made the announcement several days after the election results were out.

The BJP party did not announce a candidate ahead of the March-April polls. The party had said it would settle the issue after the election was over. In 2016 they had projected Sonowal as its leader and won, forming its government in the northeast.

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