Gossip mill goes overdrive on Cabinet expansion again

GUWAHATI, April 16: Yet again Dispur gossip mill has gone into overdrive this week with reports that State Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is going to fill up six of the eight vacant ministerial berths in his Cabinet.

What is doing rounds at Dispur is that Bohag being an auspicious month in Assamese culture there is every likelihood of the Chief Minister expanding his Cabinet soon. Thought in circles concerned in the State is – it is a matter of shame on the part of the BJP-led coalition at Dispur not being able to expand the Cabinet even as the coalition is going to celebrate its completion of two years on May 24 when Sonowal took oath as the Chief Minister in 2016.

Even as there is no official announcement on Cabinet expansion by Sonowal, the board hint which the Chief Minister dropped before a few MLAs recently is taken as a step forward towards that end. According to party sources, the Cabinet is likely to be expanded between April 19 and 30, 2018. Of course, there are many who want to say that in the absence of any official announcement on this vital issue the Chief Minister’s recent broad hint does not hold much water. 

Meanwhile, one each for the AGP and the BPF of the eight vacant berths in the State Cabinet is almost certain. Of the remaining six vacant berths, according to BJP sources, Sonowal is keen to keep two berths vacant. If this report is true, the BJP will have to remain contended with four berths.