BJP's chief ministerial candidate in Assam Sarbananda Sonowal filing his nomination papers from Majuli Assembly seat on Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (Press Trust of India photo)
Union Minister and BJP's chief ministerial candidate in Assam Sarbananda Sonowal today filed his nomination paper from Majuli (ST) Assembly seat, which goes to poll in first phase on April 4.
Accompanied by senior BJP leader Mahendra Singh and party's alliance partner Asom Gana Parishad's president Atul Bora, Mr Sonowal filed his nomination before Majuli Sub-Divisional Officer P Narasingh Sambhaji.
BJP lawmakers Kamakhya Prasad Tassa and Rameswar Teli, former Congress minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who joined BJP last year, AGP senior leader and legislator Keshab Mahanta were also present during the filing of the nomination.
"We are one and will fight like a family," he said.
"BJP will definitely form the next government in Assam with the help of the people and its alliance partners - the AGP and Bodoland Peoples' Front (BPF)," Mr Sonowal told reporters.
He claimed the people have already rejected the Congress as "they failed to ensure development of the state during their 15-year-rule under Tarun Gogoi."
BJP's primary campaign plank would be change and development and to ensure security of all indigenous population in both Brahmaputra and Barak Valley, Mr Sonowal said.
On his choice of contesting from Majuli, the world's largest river island, Mr Sonowal said the process of making the island shine has begun since the BJP assumed power at the Centre in 2014.
Mr Sonowal, a former firebrand student leader, is credited with taking the issue of Bangladeshi infiltration to the Supreme Court.
Mr Sonowal was elected to the last Lok Sabha from Lakhimpur, and earlier in 2004 on an AGP ticket from Dibrugarh, and was also a legislator between 2001 and 2004 from Moran.
He was All Assam Students' Union president from 1992 to 1999 and North East Students' Organisation (NESO) chairman from 1994 to 2004.