Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has appointed Jayanta Mallabaruah to lead the state's Finance department. This key cabinet role follows a period of political uncertainty for Mallabaruah, who was denied party tickets for both the 2016 assembly elections and the 2019 Lok Sabha race.
Mallabaruah entered politics as a Congress legislator in 2011 before joining the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2015 alongside Sarma. Despite facing public scrutiny in 2025 regarding subsidies awarded to a family-linked dairy venture, he maintained his political standing. Mallabaruah rejected allegations of wrongdoing, asserting that the scheme was transparent and that "the scheme had more available support than applicants."
His political recovery was solidified during the 2026 elections when he secured the Nalbari seat with over 118,000 votes. This decisive victory saw him defeat Congress candidate Ashok Kumar Sarma by a margin of 60,101 votes, reinforcing his influence within the state BJP.
Beyond the Finance portfolio, Mallabaruah will oversee Environment, Forest, Mines, and Minerals. These roles place him at the heart of balancing Assam's resource management and conservation goals with broader economic development. Chief Minister Sarma finalized the cabinet assignments on June 8, tasking other ministers like Ashok Singhal and Ranoj Pegu with portfolios spanning health, education, and disaster management to drive state progress.
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