Assam: Four Ministers Take Oath in Cabinet; Portfolios on Monday

Induction aims at giving justice to departments: CM

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: Four MLAs took oath as ministers in the Assam Cabinet today. However, their portfolios are awaited till Monday as the process needs a Cabinet shake-up.

Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office to the four newly inducted ministers-Prashanta Phukan, Kaushik Rai, Krishnendu Paul, and Rupesh Gowala-in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his cabinet colleagues at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra.

Speaking to the media after the oath-taking ceremony, the Chief Minister said that a cabinet expansion has been overdue. "We inducted four ministers today. Even then, one berth is still vacant in the Cabinet. We will fill in that berth soon," the Chief Minister said.

On the distribution of portfolios, the Chief Minister said, "We will finalize the portfolios on Monday. Some berths remaining vacant led to the overloading of departments on the existing ministers, including me. In order to give justice to the departments, we need to reshuffle the portfolios of all ministers. The cabinet expansion has been carried out, taking in mind representations from all areas and linguistic communities."

Congratulating all four ministers who took the oath today, the Chief Minister said, "We are moving forward to work with newly appointed ministers to fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Viksit Assam."

Among the newly inducted ministers, Prashanta Phukan has been a four-time consecutive MLA from Dibrugarh, Chairman of the AIDC, and former Chairman of the Managing Committee of Assam Medical College and Hospital.

Krishnendu Paul has been elected twice from the Patharkandi LAC in 2016 and 2021. He holds a bachelor's degree in commerce. Kaushik Rai is a first-time legislator from Lakhipur. He holds an LLB degree.

Pupesh Gowalai represents the Tea Tribe community. He is also a first-time legislator from the Doomdooma LAC. He holds a bachelor's degree in commerce.

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