HT Correspondent
GUWAHATI, March 17: Congress leader and former minister at the centre Paban Singh Ghatowar showered huge praises for Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal fuelling speculations of a new alignment before the Lok Sabha poll.
Sonowal is contesting from Dibrugarh Lok Sabha seat this time.
Related Posts:
Ghatowar said, “Sarbananda Sonowal is a very able leader. We are proud of him. I wish he will again become a minister at the centre.”
Although Congress has not fielded any candidate in Dibrugarh, Asom Jatiya Parishad’s Lurinjyoti Gogoi has been fielded by the United Opposition Forum to take on Sonowal. The opposition believes that the seat will see a close contest between Sonowal and Gogoi. At this juncture, a senior leader like Ghatowar’s praise for the BJP leader raised many eyebrows.
Reacting to the development, Sonowal said on Sunday, “Paban Singh Ghatowar is a very senior leader. In politics, we maintain respect for each other. I am sure that he has blessed me as a younger brother.”
Sarbananda Sonowal has already started his poll campaign in Dibrugarh. The Lok Sabha constituency will have elections in the first phase on April 19.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has predicted an easy win for Sarbananda Sonowal in Dibrugarh. He said, “We will win the Dibrugarh seat with a minimum margin of 3 lakh votes.”
Sarbananda Sonowal addressed two meetings on Sunday today at Chowkidingee in Dibrugarh and at Manoranjan Baruah Natya Mandir in Chabua where he addressed and interacted with the leaders and party workers of Asom Gana Parishad, a key ally of BJP in the state. The meeting was also attended by MLA of Chabua-Lahowal constitutency, Ponakan Baruah; senior leaders of AGP like Aditya Goswami, Sunil Rajkhowa, Putul Sonowal, Kamini Baruah, Krishnananda Duarah, Pramod Bhengra, Nitul Saikia, Binod Buragohain along with BJP’s senior leaders of Assam like Ujjwal Kashyap, Rituparna Baruah, Bikul Deka among others. Sonowal also interacted with the leaders and members of Asom Mahila Parishad, Asom Yuva Parishad, Asom Chatra Parishad, Asom Chah Parishad, Asom Krishak Parishad from the Chabua-Lahowal constituency. Sarbananda Sonowal also addressed a third meeting by the BJP at Banipur in Dibrugarh where scores of people attended.
