GUWAHATI / AGARTALA, May 24 (TIWN): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the BJP-led central government would extend all support to new Assam Chief Minister Sarabananda Sonowal for the development of the north-eastern state.Modi was speaking at a huge public meeting here organised for the oath taking ceremony of Sonowal, the BJP's posterboy, who now heads its first government in the border state."The central government would give full support to the state government in developing Assam," Modi said."I am sure that Sarbananda ji will leave no stone unturned for the development of Assam." Modi thanked the "people of Assam for giving Sarbananda and his ministers an opportunity to serve" the state. Modi emphasized the need for overall infrastructure development in north region."Eastern part of India cannot remain away from the development journey," he added. BJP eyeing 2017 Manipur and 2018 Tripura Assembly Polls.

The prime minister said his government "believes in competitive cooperative federalism and wants to contribute as much to develop states which need help".