Assam CM, Gogoi reshuffles portfolio

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has reshuffled the portfolio of some of his ministers after the induction of new minister Akon Bora in his cabinet on Tuesday.

Official sources said here today that the chief minister allocated the ministry of social welfare and jails to the newly inducted minister while the sitting minister Ajanta Neog has been shifted to the public works department.

Water Resources Minister Bharat Narah will now handle cultural affairs, sports and youth welfare and cooperation ministries while Labour and Employment Minister Prithbi Majhi has been given the additional charge of water resources.

The sitting Cultural Affairs Minister Gautam Bora has been allocated education though the chief minister will retain the technical education department.

Akon Bora was inducted yesterday into the cabinet following a ministerial berth falling vacant with the sacking of former education minster Ripun Bora after he allegedly tried to offer bribe to a CBI officer investigating into his alleged involvement in a murder case.

The current strength of the Assam cabinet is 19, including the chief minister who has kept with himself the departments of home, political, finance, planning and development, technical education and any other department not allotted specifically to any minister.