Sarbananda Sonowal visited his rival and Assam's former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi from Congress. (File Photo)
Guwahati:
Sarbananda Sonowal's treatment of opposition leader Tarun Gogoi in Assam today is expected to be remarkably different than witnessed at Jayalalithaa's oath ceremony on Monday in Tamil Nadu, where the DMK has complained that its MK Stalin was "deliberately humiliated."
Mr Stalin, a top leader of the main opposition party, was seated in a row towards the end, while leaders of lesser parties got front row seats.
In Assam, where the BJP government of Sarbananda Sonowal will take oath this evening, the Congress' Tarun Gogoi was not just honoured with a personal visit by the man who will replace him as chief minister, but Mr Sonowal has also said, "He is our senior. I will seek his blessing, guidance and advice in running the state."
Mr Gogoi was Assam chief minister for 15 years before being vanquished last week by the BJP. He is reportedly the only one to have received a personal invite from Mr Sonowal apart from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah for the grand ceremony today.
The graciousness, say those who have tracked Mr Sonowal's career, is typical of the 53-year-old affable former student union leader.
When he addressed the BJP's new lawmakers in Assam Mr Sonowal said, "I don't want to talk about what the previous government did. People have judged them. Your time starts now. The people of Assam are looking at you for sincerity, competence and dedication."
Mr Sonowal, who was a member of the Asom Gana Parishad or AGP before he joined the BJP in 2011, returns to Assam from the Centre, where he was union Sports minister. He told NDTV today that he joined the BJP as he felt that Assam's core problems like the illegal immigrant issue, could be solved only by intervention at a national level.
Sarbananda Sonowal works with a team of about half a dozen close advisers who have been with him for years and operate completely out of the spotlight. From them he seeks regular feedback on his area of work so that he can make corrections.
The BJP changed strategy for Assam by projecting Mr Sonowal as its party's chief ministerial candidate. The party has won 60 of Assam's 126 seats, powered by a sweep of Upper Assam, traditionally a Congress bastion.
Mr Sonowal, who will be the first BJP chief minister in the North East, is being credited for that reversal of support.
Mr Stalin, a top leader of the main opposition party, was seated in a row towards the end, while leaders of lesser parties got front row seats.
In Assam, where the BJP government of Sarbananda Sonowal will take oath this evening, the Congress' Tarun Gogoi was not just honoured with a personal visit by the man who will replace him as chief minister, but Mr Sonowal has also said, "He is our senior. I will seek his blessing, guidance and advice in running the state."
Mr Gogoi was Assam chief minister for 15 years before being vanquished last week by the BJP. He is reportedly the only one to have received a personal invite from Mr Sonowal apart from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah for the grand ceremony today.
The graciousness, say those who have tracked Mr Sonowal's career, is typical of the 53-year-old affable former student union leader.
When he addressed the BJP's new lawmakers in Assam Mr Sonowal said, "I don't want to talk about what the previous government did. People have judged them. Your time starts now. The people of Assam are looking at you for sincerity, competence and dedication."
Mr Sonowal, who was a member of the Asom Gana Parishad or AGP before he joined the BJP in 2011, returns to Assam from the Centre, where he was union Sports minister. He told NDTV today that he joined the BJP as he felt that Assam's core problems like the illegal immigrant issue, could be solved only by intervention at a national level.
Sarbananda Sonowal works with a team of about half a dozen close advisers who have been with him for years and operate completely out of the spotlight. From them he seeks regular feedback on his area of work so that he can make corrections.
The BJP changed strategy for Assam by projecting Mr Sonowal as its party's chief ministerial candidate. The party has won 60 of Assam's 126 seats, powered by a sweep of Upper Assam, traditionally a Congress bastion.
Mr Sonowal, who will be the first BJP chief minister in the North East, is being credited for that reversal of support.
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