From boy wonder to master strategist

February 1, 19699:

Born in Jorhat

1987—1992

Elected general secretary of Cotton College students’ union thrice as aaSU member

1979—1985

Participated in the assam agitation against illegal infiltration in the state; mentored by Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and Bhrigu Kumar Phukan; he was known as ‘bismoi balak’ (boy wonder); also visited

RSS shakhas regularly

1996

Contested first assembly election from Jalukbari against his former mentor Phukan; lost

1994

Joined the Congress under the patronage of then chief minister Hiteswar Saikia

2002

Became a minister of state in chief minister tarun Gogoi’s cabinet

2001

Won his first assembly election; defeated Phukan

2006 2011

Led Congress campaign in assam, helping the party win 78 seats; was rewarded with several plum portfolios

Joined tarun Gogoi’s cabinet as health minister; his performance as a health minister earned him huge popularity in assam; emerged as the no. 2 in Gogoi’s cabinet

2014

Resigned from Gogoi’s cabinet after Rahul Gandhi declined to make him chief minister in place of Gogoi, despite the backing of 54 of 78 MLas

2016

Led the BJP’s campaign in the state, helping the party grab power for the first time in assam; became minister with key portfolios

2012

Was the strategist for the Congress’s campaign in Manipur and delivered a win despite huge anti-incumbency. in assam, started getting sidelined after the arrival of Tarun Gogoi’s son Gaurav in assam’s political scene; the rift between Gogoi and him came out in the open

2015

Joined the BJP

2019

Unwilling to work under CM Sarbananda Sonowal, he sought to contest Lok Sabha election from tezpur; Prime Minister Modi asked him to stay put in assam

2016-2021

Emerged as the BJP’s point man and trouble-shooter in the northeast, helping the party form and retain governments in arunachal Pradesh, nagaland, Manipur, tripura and Meghalaya; was also seen as de facto chief minister of assam

2021

Single-handedly drew up a massive campaign in assam and ensured the BJP’s return to power despite strong opposition because of the controversial Caa; replaced Sonowal as chief minister

2020

Earned massive popularity and appreciation even from his rivals for his efficient management of the Covid pandemic during the first wave in the state