Assam Ex-Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal May Join Central Cabinet

BJP MP from Inner Manipur, Dr RK Ranjan Singh, too, has been summoned to New Delhi ahead of the Union Cabinet expansion party sources said.

Former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today reached Delhi after "receiving a call" to be present in the national capital for his likely induction in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet which may happen on tomorrow, according to BJP insiders. BJP Parliamentarian from Inner Manipur, Dr RK Ranjan Singh, too, has been summoned, the party's sources in the state said. Mr Sonowal arrived in New Delhi by Tuesday afternoon amid speculation that he may get a plum ministry. Party insiders indicate that his induction was a "done deal". This was decided, they said, when the BJP high command decided to make Himanta Biswa Sarma the new Assam Chief Minister. Mr Sonowal was then tipped off about a "new responsibility at the Centre", said one of his close aides. Mr Sonowal began his political career as President of the All-Assam Student Union between 1992 and 1999. He then joined the Asom Gana Parishad and was elected MLA from Moran in 2001. Three years later, in 2004, he entered the Lok Sabha from Dibrugarh. He returned to the lower house again in 2014 from Lakhimpur, becoming the Union Sports Minister during Prime Minister Modi's first term.