Achi news desk-
Despite being a Rajya Sabha MP, former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is contesting the Lok Sabha from Dibrugarh constituency. He spoke to GPlus and explained his move and also what he prefers to be, Chief Minister or Union Minister, among a host of other issues.
• Why are you running for MP when you are already one and have two more years to complete the term?
– We are all disciplined workers of the BJP. It is the party’s right to decide and provide us with ways to commit to working for the development of the country and the welfare of the people. The party has entrusted me with the responsibility of contesting from Dibrugarh constituency, and I am happy to nominate my candidate from my home constituency and commit myself to the welfare and development of the people of Dibrugarh, Assam and Bharat.
• Which nickname do you prefer more, Assam CM or Union Minister?
– As I told you, we are all disciplined workers of the party and our main concern is the welfare of the people and the development of our country. Our core strength is to be a worker of BJP. The opportunity to commit to nation building and the welfare of the people is given by the party. Our commitment to the people and the nation is absolute.
• Well powders, 400 par – how sure are you about the determination?
– BJP will comfortably secure 370 seats on its own and with our NDA allies, we are sure to cross the 400 seats in this election. Given our report card of developmental work, welfare and benefit of the people, we, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, have the support of the people. For sixty years, people have suffered under the corrupt, corrupt and nepotistic Congress governments. We provide A government that is committed to the welfare of the people and that safeguards the national interest above all else. This is Modi’s responsibility.
Today, people are taking advantage of government welfare schemes with innovative schemes like Direct Benefit Transfer, Mission Swacha Bharat, Mission Jal Jeevan, Ujjwala and many others, routing corruption out of the system among others. This is what good governance can provide. People have immense faith and belief in Modi ji and we are sure that good governance will continue under his leadership.
• In Assam, how many seats will BJP win, according to you?
– In Assam, we will comfortably secure at least 12 seats, out of 14 seats contested by the NDA. With the good work done by the BJP governments since 2014 under Modi ji, the people will give a greater mandate to give third consecutive term to Modi ji.
• You were AASU leaders and fought for the implementation of all clauses of the Assam Accord, but now you support the CAA, which changes the cut-off date for granting Indian citizenship. How are you adjusting to this change, and do you encounter questions about it during your campaign because your constituency is particularly sensitive to it? If so, how do you explain/defend CAA?
– The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) poses no threat to any citizen of India, including the natives of the North East region. CAA is also an all India act. The IMDT Act was enacted by the Congress applicable only in Assam. To deal with this, I fought legally. Ultimately, the Hon’ble Supreme Court found it unconstitutional. Despite the opposition’s attempts to create a false narrative around the CAA, people realize that it will not disrupt their way of life. The BJP government has actively worked to protect the interests of ‘Bhoomiputras’ (sons of the soil) by granting land rights, – previously denied during decades of Congress misrule. Natives need not worry, as BJP remains committed to securing, protecting and promoting our heritage.
• How do you think Assam has changed socio-culturally in the last ten years? Is there today a wider acceptance of the Hindu belt, which was once condescendingly referred to as the cow belt?
– We are all Indians living in a country bound by the commitment to build a new, strong Atmanirbhar Bharat while preserving our rich collective heritage as one of the oldest civilizations of mankind. It is a fact that the spirit of brotherhood among the people remains strong and is further strengthened under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji as we join a common journey to make our nation strong, Atmanirbhar Vixit Bharat.
• What about the promise passed to grant ST status to six communities? Will they ever get it?
– The BJP government – both at the Center and in the state – remains committed to ensuring the rights of indigenous peoples, which includes granting ST status to six communities in the state. While discussions are taking place with the right representatives from various stakeholders in this development, the government aims to find a meaningful and acceptable solution.
• BJP prides itself on being free of corrupt members, but the party welcomes leaders from other parties who are allegedly corrupt. Does the party not care who joins if it helps weaken the other parties?
Corruption is a sin. BJP acted very strongly against this menace. You may remember how the first BJP-led government in the state under my CM ship acted against the ‘Dalal Raj’ that was rotting the APSC from within; Innovative measures like Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) have eliminated the menace of ‘Dalal’ from the company. As for corrupt members joining our party, it is imperative that none of them be above the law. Anyone who is found guilty in a court of law in cases such as corruption, the party will act decisively to deny him or her any right he or she enjoys as a member. As a party with a vision, our idea is to spread the cause of nation building and providing good governance, which makes our party stronger.
• Does construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya give any advantage to BJP in Assam?
‘Ram Mandir’ is a commitment of the BJP to the people of India. It is part of the heritage we all celebrate as Bharatiya. ‘Ram Noam’ is also an integral part of the culture and heritage of our Exomia. Building Ram Mandir was a duty of BJP and we did our duty.
• Assam has been demanding for years that its floods be declared a national problem, but this has never been done. Why?
Flooding is a challenge that must be mitigated with a coordinated approach. The government is committed to addressing this issue through comprehensive disaster management strategies, including early warning systems, infrastructure development and community resilience initiatives. We actively collaborate with state governments and international partners to mitigate the impact of floods and protect our citizens and infrastructure.
• Will Sarbanada Sonowal contest 2026 assembly elections?
As loyal workers of the BJP party, we are bound by a sense of purpose, and our absolute commitment to the welfare of the people. To serve the cause, I will remain committed to doing whatever the party thinks and decides as necessary to serve the people of this country. Our vision to make India a Vixit Bharat under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji is the most important task at hand and to meet this goal, I have a firm commitment to work for the welfare and development of our great nation.
