In Sonowal's First Speech As Assam Chief Minister, A Plea And A Promise

Guwahati: In his first speech after being sworn in chief minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal said, "It's a historic moment for the BJP. We will make Assam a developed state."

He spoke in Assamese, at the end of a line of speakers that included Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

Mr Sonowal is the BJP's first Assam chief minister and also its first chief minister in the North East. To celebrate, the BJP staged a massive show of strength at his oath ceremony, also flying into Guwahati top central ministers and all 14 chief ministers from states where it rules, alone or with allies.  

"Like you voted us to power with a thumping majority, hope you'll support us through our term," the new chief minister said addressing a cheering crowd, a lakh strong. "Hindu, Muslim, Sikhs, Christians, all will work towards a better Assam," he said.

The 53-year-old had just been praised for his "simplicity" by PM Modi, who also promised that Mr Sonowal "will serve Assam and work very hard to transform Assam. His team will do the same".

He demonstrated rare grace not just by personally inviting the man he has replaced, Tarun Gogoi of the Congress, to his oath ceremony, but also seating him on stage with top BJP leaders and allies in the National Democratic Alliance.  

To NDTV, in an exclusive interview hours before he took oath, Mr Sonowal had listed addressing the issue of "illegal immigration" in Assam as his main priority as CM.

Skill development, Mr Sonowal said, will be a key focus of his government to empower the 20 million Assamese youth in need of jobs and employment.

Sarbananada Sonowal is a former student leader who was a member of local party Asom Gana Parishad or AGP before he joined the BJP in 2011. He was the sports minister in the Modi government, when the BJP, in a change of strategy, decided to project him as the chief ministerial candidate in Assam.