Assam CM expands cabinet; 2 new ministers take oath

Two ministers were inducted into the Assam council of ministers and a major reshuffle of portfolios of existing ministers were effected on Thursday. The strength of the council of ministers has now gone up to 16. There are still two berths vacant.

Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi administered the oath of office and secrecy in Guwahati to first-time BJP legislator Nandita Garlosa and political secretary to the chief minister Jayanta Malla Baruah -- who have now become ministers.

Garlosa has been allotted power, co-operation, mines and minerals and indigenous and tribal faith and culture departments while Baruah has been entrusted with public health engineering, skill employment and entrepreneurship and tourism department.


Chandra Mohan Patowary has been divested of industry and commerce, skill employment and entrepreneurship. The industry portfolio has been given to Bimal Bora. The transport department, which was under Patowary, has been given to Parimal Shuklabaidya.

Parimal's environment and forest department has gone to Patowary. Bimal Bora has been shifted out of the power department and tourism. He was also in charge of the sports, which will now be headed by the chief minister.

Ranjit Kumar Dass has been divested of public health engineering department. With the expansion, the Cabinet currently has 13 members from the BJP, two from its ally Asom Gana Parishad and one from the United People's Party Liberal (UPPL). UPPL has sought one more berth in the council of ministers. This is the first expansion of the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government in Assam.