In a significant political development, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expanded his council of ministers on Sunday, inducting four new faces into the state cabinet. The expansion comes as part of a strategic reshuffle aimed at strengthening the ruling coalition and accommodating allies.
New Ministers Inducted
The four newly inducted ministers are Ashwini Roy Sarkar, Ashok Singhal, Bimal Borah, and an independent legislator. Among them, two belong to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), one is from the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), and one represents the independent group. The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Governor Jagdish Mukhi at a ceremony held at the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati.
Portfolio Allocation
The portfolios for the new ministers are yet to be announced. However, sources indicate that the allocation will be finalized in the coming days, taking into account the experience and expertise of each minister. The expansion is seen as a move to balance regional and community representation within the cabinet.
Chief Minister Sarma, who took office in May 2021, has now a total of 20 ministers in his cabinet, including the Chief Minister. The expansion was widely anticipated after the recent by-elections and the need to fill vacancies created by the resignation of some ministers earlier this year.
Political Reactions
The expansion has drawn mixed reactions from political parties. While the ruling coalition welcomed the move as a step towards inclusive governance, opposition parties criticized it as a mere political adjustment. The Congress party alleged that the expansion was aimed at placating allies ahead of the upcoming panchayat elections.
Meanwhile, the new ministers expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister and the party leadership for the opportunity, pledging to work for the development of the state and the welfare of its people.
