Meeting Sarbananda Sonowal, Who Will Be BJP's First Assam Chief Minister

Guwahati: It's still a few hours before Sarbananda Sonowal is sworn in as the next Chief Minister of Assam, but the 53-year-old already seems to be slipping into the role and rather easily.

He agrees to meet this reporter late in the night at the Brahmaputra guest house in Guwahati, between discussions with party functionaries and senior government officials on arrangements for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrival on Tuesday for his oath ceremony.

The guest house is swarming with party workers, security personnel and media crews. We keep looking at our watches anxiously as it is well past the hour of appointment, when an aide says, "Sir has called you in."

As we reach his room, Mr Sonowal rushes out to greet us and then goes up to meet supporters and well-wishers. We proceed to his room.

Another hour passes before we see him again. "Sorry for making you wait," says Mr Sonowal with a warm smile, and begins answering questions.

He talks about his journey from a student leader in Assam to being its next chief minister. "Whatever I have achieved, it is because of the people of Assam," says the man who was once referred to as a Jatiyo Nayak or a leader of the Assamese nationality after his epic legal victory over the IMDT Act or a law that was perceived to favour immigrants who had entered Assam from Bangladesh illegally.

He fought against the law and won the case in the Supreme Court. But his decision to join the BJP in 2011 was seen as controversial and many alleged that he was abandoning the Assamese cause.

"No, Assam's issues are not state issues but national ones. I thought a national party would help as it is dealt with issues at the highest level," says Mr Sonowal, adding that his decision to join the BJP was taken after consulting his well-wishers.

Predictably, he lists "illegal immigration" issue as his main priority.

He talks about the apprehension among a section of Muslims in the state that minorities are "targeted" in the name of foreigners. "Bonafide Indian citizens need not worry. Whether they are Hindus or Muslims, everyone will be protected and promoted, politically and socially, "asserts Mr Sonowal.

He says skill development will be a key focus of his government to empower the 20 million Assamese youth in need of jobs and employment.

We wind up as the next batch of visitors is knocking at the door. The interview has taken up over 10 minutes of their busy leader's time.