The Bharatiya Janata Party's parliamentary board on Thursday declared Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal as its chief ministerial candidate for the Assam elections. Sonawal has been serving as the country's sports minister since the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government assumed charge at the Centre in May 2014. The Assam elections are likely to be held in April this year.

Following the announcement, Sonawal said, "[I] want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and [BJP president] Amit Shah ji. I am grateful to them... I believe people will vote for BJP on grounds for good administration in Assam [sic]."