Guwahati: It will be first time since 1985, that a newly-elected government in Assam will take oath under open sky before a huge gathering of people.
The first-ever elected BJP-led government in the Northeast led by Sarbananda Sonowal will take oath of office on Tuesday afternoon at Veterinary College Ground at Khanapara here in presence of a galaxy of luminaries led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Everybody whether rich or poor, educated or illiterate, young or old in the society wants to live with dignity in a democratic atmosphere. Our objective will be to facilitate such an atmosphere in cooperation with 3.20 crore population in Assam. It will be a huge responsibility and only unrelenting hard work will lead us to the goal. There will be no prosperity sans hard work,” said Sarbananda Sonowal, BJP’s chief minister designate.
“The expectations of the people are very high. It will be very tough to live up to it. We will need to work as a team taking people into confidence,” Sonowal said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Yoga guru Ramdev, foreign ambassadors and a galaxy of Union ministers and chief ministers of NDA-ruled states will stand witness to the oath-taking of the first-ever elected BJP government in the Northeast India on Tuesday.
Sonowal and a few ministers including two each from allies AGP and BPF, are expected to take oath on Tuesday while rest of the ministers will be appointed on a later date, a senior BJP functionary said here.
Sonowal will be administered the oath of office and secrecy as the chief minister of Assam by Governor PB Acharya before a huge crowd at Veterinary College playground at Khanapara.
He is leading an alliance of BJP, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), which had secured 86 seats in the Assembly of 126 members.
Besides the Prime Minister, the swearing-in ceremony, which will also be attended by the BJP President Amit Shah, several Union ministers and BJP central leaders.
The chief ministers of NDA-led states have been invited to the swearing-in and the chief ministers of Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and
Madhya Pradesh have confirmed their attendance.
A host of spiritual leaders, numbering around 150, are also expected to be present on the occasion.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Baba Ramdev, heads of various Vaishnavite monasteries of the state and head priest of Krishna Guru Sevashram, of which Sonowal is a follower, are among some of the spiritual leaders who are likely to attend the oath-taking ceremony.
