53-year-old BJP leader Sarbananda Sonowal had overshadowed not just Atul Bora but his colleagues who were part of the anti-foreigners' movement of the 1980s. (PTI photo)
On Sunday afternoon, inside the packed conference room of Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok, 65-year-old Atul Bora was the fourth senior BJP leader to back Sarbananda Sonowal as the party's choice for the chief minister's post.
But the endorsement by Mr Bora -- a former student leader of the All Assam Students' Union or AASU who joined the BJP a few years ago -- signified that Mr Sonowal's rise from a second generation to being next Chief Minister of Assam is complete.
The 53-year-old BJP leader had overshadowed not just Mr Bora but his colleagues who were part of the anti-foreigners' movement of the 1980s.
Many of his fellow travellers during the anti-foreigners' movement of the '80s -- popularly called the Assam Agitation against illegal immigrants from Bangladesh --are now partners in the new government.
Mr Sonowal started as a student leader, worked under former Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. But the highpoint for him was his legal victory against a law -- the Illegal Migrants' Determination Tribunal Act or IMDT that was perceived to be favouring illegal migrants.
Mr Mahanta, who signed the historic Assam Accord with Rajiv Gandhi to detect and deport illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, too, has made a comeback as an ally of the BJP.
Over a dozen lawmakers from Mr Mahanta's party, the Asom Gana Parishad or AGP, are people who cut their political teeth during the movement against illegal immigrants.
And almost all of them are senior to Mr Sonowal.
"In politics and administration, there is no such thing as junior or senior. He has to fulfil the expectations of the people," Mr Mahanta, who won't be a part of the new government, told NDTV.
Atul Bora agrees. "I have no problem as we fought the elections under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sonowal," said Mr Bora.
Aware of the sensibilities involved, the chief minister designate opted for a diplomatic response.
"I will definitely explore the positive qualities possessed by the veteran leaders. I need their guidance and blessings," was how Mr Sonowal responded.
For the AGP, whose previous two terms were marked by allegations of corruption and violence, being part of the NDA has given it an opportunity to revive itself politically. And predictably, Mr Mahanta has asked the new government to make the implementation of the Assam Accord a priority.
"The Central Government must raise this issue and convince the Bangladesh government to accept those foreigners who have been identified by courts as foreign nationals," Mr Mahanta told NDTV.