Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expanded his council of ministers today to strengthen the NDA government following a landslide victory in the state assembly elections. Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office to 12 legislators at a ceremony held at the Jyoti-Bishnu Antarjatik Kala Mandir in Guwahati.
The expansion brings the total strength of the Assam Council of Ministers to 17, staying within the constitutional limit of 19 for the 126-member assembly. Among the new appointees are four first-time ministers: BJP legislators Ashwini Ray Sarkar, Nilima Devi, Sushanta Borgohain, and former Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary. Senior AGP leader Keshab Mahanta was also inducted into the cabinet.
Other legislators taking the oath include Ashok Singhal, Ranoj Pegu, Bimal Borah, Jayanta Malla Baruah, Kaushik Rai, Krishnendu Paul, and Pijush Hazarika, all of whom served in the previous government. Regarding the shift, state officials noted the new ministry reflects a "balance of regional and ethnic representation" across various communities and geographical zones.
The current cabinet now includes 13 BJP ministers, two from the Asom Gana Parishad, and one from the Bodoland People's Front. This reshuffle follows the NDA's successful election campaign, where the coalition secured 102 of the 126 available seats.
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