PM Narendra Modi to campaign for BJP’s Assam CM nominee Sarbananda Sonowal

GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will campaign for BJP’s chief ministerial candidate in Assam Sarbananda Sonowal, who is contesting from Majuli.

Modi is also likely to address an election meeting in Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s constituency of Titabor.

BJP spokesperson, Bijon Mahajan told ET, "Prime minister will address election meeting. He is likely to visit Assam on March 24 or 25 and will address election meeting in Majuli."

Majuli river island is a centre of Vashnavite culture in Assam. Sonowal on Wednesday filed his nomination from this constituency.

Congress has given ticket to sitting MLA Rajib Lochan Pegu and if Ganashakti party contests the election from the constituency, there may be a triangular contest between Congress, BJP and Ganashakti party, which has strong base in the area. Talks of alliance between Congress and Ganashakti are still going on.

Sonowal, who is also the union minister of sports, has been nursing this constituency and had awarded Majuli National Youth Festival, held early this year. Recently Union minister for road transport, highways and shipping, Nitin Gadkari laid foundation stone of a bridge in Majuli.

In 2009, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, LK Advani had also visited Majuli. Majuli is vying for UNESCO’s world heritage site, a tag which has remained elusive for this river for several years.

The island which has several Sattras (monasteries) is facing massive erosion problem.

Available data indicate an erosion rate of 1.9 sq. km per year.