Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI: Two new faces from the Barak Valley and as many from Upper Assam will get berths in the state cabinet that is set for an expansion on December 7.
According to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the BJP’s central leadership has approved four names—Dibrugarh MLA Prashanta Phukan, Doomdooma MLA Rupesh Gowala, Patharkandi MLA Krishnendu Paul, and Lakhipur MLA Kaushik Rai—for induction into the state Cabinet.
On the other hand, two-time MLA from the Tinsukia LAC, Sanjay Kishan, resigned as the Tea Tribe and Labourer Welfare Minister today. Earlier, former Transport and Excise Minister Parimal Suklabaidya resigned after his election as MP from the Silchar Lok Sabha constituency.
Prashanta Phukan has been representing the Dibrugarh Legislative Assembly Constituency (LAC) for four consecutive terms since 2006.
Two-time MLA from Lakhipur LAC, Kaushik Rai, and also two-time MLA from Patherkandi LAC, Krishnendu Paul, are set to be ministers from the Barak Valley that has no minister after the resignation of Suklabaidya.
Rupesh Gowala is a first-time MLA from the Doomdooma LAC. Before joining the BJP, Gowala had a long association with the Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS), a premier trade union for tea garden workers in the state. The expansion of the Cabinet will have a reshuffle in the portfolios.
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