Major reshuffle in Assam ministry

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi effected a major reshuffle in his three and half-year old ministry for the first time today introducing new 11 cabinet ministers and three ministers of state with independent charge.

The oath of office and secrecy to the new entrants was administered by Governor Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya at the Raj Bhaban here in the presence of Gogoi and other dignitaries.

Bhumidhar Barman, Sarat Barkatoky, Ajanta Neog, Nazrul Islam, Rockybul Hussain, Chandan Kumar Sarkar, Khorsing Engti, Sukur Ali Ahmed, Ajit Singh, Basanta Das and Etuwa Munda took oath as cabinet ministers.

Sumitra Patir, Girindra Mallick and Bismita Gogoi were sworn in as ministers of state with independent charge.

Barman, Barkatoky and Sarkar are veteran Congress leaders and have been ministers earlier, while Ahmed, Munda, Patir, Mallick and Gogoi are the new entrants.