Guwahati: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday announced the names of four BJP MLAs who will be inducted into his council of ministers on Saturday.
Earlier the state’s cabinet minister Sanjoy Kishan on Thursday tendered his resignation. Mr Kishan held the portfolios of Tea Tribes Welfare and Labour Welfare departments in the government. Mr Kishan, 54, is a member of the Assam Legislative Assembly, after being elected from the Tinsukia constituency. He had also served as a minister in the cabinet of former Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. This came a day after Himanta Biswa Sarma's cabinet meeting that was held virtually from New Delhi on Wednesday.
After the cabinet meeting Mr Sarma had announced that the much-awaited cabinet expansion will take place on December 7. He assured that further details regarding the expansion would be disclosed soon.
With several ministers in the current cabinet shouldering multiple responsibilities, there have been calls for a cabinet expansion recently. Currently, the Assam cabinet has only 15 members, including the chief minister, although the maximum strength permitted is 18, which leaves three slots vacant.
It is significant that there was no representation from Barak Valley in the cabinet since former minister Parimal Suklabaidya, who represented the Dholai constituency, resigned after being elected to the Lok Sabha earlier this year. Mr Krishnendu Paul has been given a cabinet berth to fill up the vacancy from Barrak Valley.
Veteran BJP leader Prashant Phukan who has been representing Dibrugarh for last five consecutive terms has also been given place in the state cabinet with Mr Rupesh Goala who has been inducted in place of Mr Sabjay Kishan who on Thursday resigned. The MLA of Lakhimpur Mr Kaushik Rai has also been awarded with a cabinet berth for the first time.
