Assam Cabinet expansion leads to reshuffle of some Ministerial portfolios

* Education goes back to Himanta Biswa

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Following the induction of two Ministers in the State Cabinet on Saturday, there has been a reshuffling of some Ministerial portfolios.

The Education department has been again transferred to Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. It was hitherto looked after by Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharyya. However, Minister Bhattacharyya will continue to hold charges of GDD (Guwahati Development Department), and Law & Justice, besides the additional charge of the Cooperation department which was earlier with Minister Rihon Daimary.

On the other hand, Minister Daimary besides looking after the PHE department will take over additional charge of the Public Enterprises Department.

Meanwhile, newly inducted Minister Jogen Mohan has been allotted the Department of Revenue and Disaster Management (Independent) and also PWD (to assist the Cabinet Minister as a Minister of State). PWD is presently looked after by Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The other newly inducted Minister, Sanjay Kishan has been given the charge of Tea Tribe Welfare (Independent) and Labour Welfare (to assist the Cabinet Minister as a Minister of State). Presently, the Chief Minister himself looks after the Labour Welfare department.

Kishan representing the tea tribe community is a lawmaker from Tinsukia, while Mohan representing the Ahom community was elected to the Assembly from Mahmora. With this, the strength of the nearly 44-month old Sonowal government has risen to 18 including the Chief Minister.

Altogether 12 of the Ministers are from the BJP. Allies Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodo People’s Front (BPF) have three members each.

The two vacancies were created after Topon Kumar Gogoi and Pallab Lochan Das resigned following their victory in the Lok Sabha elections last year.

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