Assam: Stage set for 2026 assembly polls; Himanta inducts four new faces in council of ministers

Guwahati: What is seen as the preparation for the 2026 assembly polls, three and half year-old Himanta Biswa Sarm led government has on Saturday inducted four minister in the council of minister.

On Saturday four ministers were inducted in the council of ministers and with these the strength of council of ministers has gone to 18. T
Assam Governor Laxman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office to the four new ministers – Prasanta Phukan, Kaushik Rai, Krishnendu Paul, and Rupesh Goala.


The chief minister and members of his cabinet were present on the occasion.

Phukan and Goala represent the Upper Assam tea districts of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia respectively while Paul and Rai are from the two Barak Valley districts of Sribhumi (formerly Karimganj ) and Cachar.

Labour and Tea Tribe Welfare Sanjay Kishan has resigned from the ministry recently after he asked by the chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to resign. While Goala is first time MLA from Doom Dooma constituency, he is a tea tribe leader, Phookan is one of the oldest BJP MLA from Dibrugarh.

Rai is MLA from Lakhipur, Paul from Patharkandi. Both are from Barak valley. Two other ministers are from Upper Assam. Rai is also a first time MLA.
OJune 9, 2022, two ministers were inducted in the council of ministers. Post Lok Sabha election Sarma has stated that he will affect the cabinet reshuffle by August 15 this year.

Assam will go to assembly polls in 2026. This expansion is being viewed as the party’s preparation for the assembly polls.

Sarma said, " Council of minister expansion is long overdue. We have inducted four minister today, two of which are from Barak velley, we did not had representation from Barak valley. "

He added, " Lot of development works are happening and with these induction I will have more hands. Even after this expansion there will one vacancy in the council of ministers. "