Former Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal Inducted in Modi's New Cabinet

Sonowal: Career file

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The BJP-led NDA government at the Centre inducted former Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal as a Union minister for the second time on Wednesday.

Sonowal took the oath as a Union minister at the Rashtrapati Councilday.

He has the distinction of being the first BJP Chief Minister in the Northeast.

Sonowal was the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports from 2014-2016. He also had a brief stint as the Union Minister of Entrepreneurship and Skill Development in 2014.

Born on October 31, 1961, in the Dibrugarh district, Sonowal led the AASU (All Assam Students' Union) as its president from 1992-99. In 2001 he joined the AGP and made it to the Assam Legislative Assembly from the Moran constituency. In 2004, he got elected as an MP from the Dibrugarh constituency. He joined the BJP in 2011 and became the State president of the party in 2012. He made it to the Parliament again in 2014 from the Lakhimpur constituency on a BJP ticket. He was the Chief Minister of Assam from 2016-21.

In a smooth change of guards, Sonowal stepped aside for his former Cabinet colleague Himanta Biswa Sarma to take over as the Chief Minister of the State after the BJP had retained its majority in the 2021 Assembly election.

Also Read: Former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in New Delhi