Sarbananda Sonowal flies to Delhi; likely to be inducted into PM Modi's Cabinet

GUWAHATI: Assam's former chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal has been summoned to New Delhi, reportedly to incorporate him into the prime minister Narendra Modi-led Union Cabinet.

According to reports, Sonowal has been summoned to the national capital New Delhi for discussions with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) top brass.

The former Chief Minister, who represents Majuli Assembly Constituency in Upper Assam, is flying to New Delhi in the afternoon.

Sonowal served as the Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of India, from 2014 to 2016. He was chosen to be the Chief Minister of Assam after the 2016 Assam Legislative Assembly election and he was the first Chief Minister of the state from Bharatiya Janata Party.

Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda last week, speculations about a possible expansion of the union cabinet ahead of the Parliament's monsoon session are rife.

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Though an official confirmation is awaited, BJP sources, quoted by news agency ANI, have hinted that few prominent leaders might get inducted into the Modi cabinet soon.

Interestingly, PM Modi has not expanded his cabinet ever since the BJP returned to power in 2019.

The Prime Minister can have a maximum of 79 ministers. However, several of his leaders hold more than one ministry due to the exit of Shiv Sena, Shiromani Akali Dal, and the demise of Jan Lokshakti Party's Ramvilas Paswan.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, who left the Congress and joined the BJP in March last year, could also be inducted into the union cabinet.

Trivendra Singh Rawat and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi could also get a place.

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