GUWAHATI, Dec 7: In a significant political development, four new ministers — Prasanta Phukon, Rupesh Goala, Kaushik Rai, and Krishnendu Paul — were sworn into the Assam cabinet on Saturday. The oath-taking ceremony, held at the Srimanta Sankardeva International Auditorium, was presided over by Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
What is significant is two legislators from Barak Valley — Kaushik Rai and Krishnendu Paul — securing cabinet positions, a rare moment of political recognition for the region.
Kaushik Rai, the MLA from Lakhipur, took his oath in Hindi amid chants of “Jai Shri Ram” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” from supporters. Patharkandi MLA Krishnendu Paul took his oath in Bengali, drawing energetic support from BJP workers and well-wishers.
Representing Upper Assam, Prasanta Phukon (Dibrugarh MLA) and Rupesh Goala (Tinsukia MLA) took their oaths in Assamese, reflecting the state’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the allocation of portfolios for the newly inducted ministers would be finalized on Monday. He highlighted the strategic aim of the reshuffle, stating, “This reshuffle will ensure a better distribution of work, reducing the burden on individual ministers. Even my own office will be restructured to accommodate these changes.”
The four new ministers expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister and the BJP leadership while pledging to serve the public with dedication. Kaushik Rai emphasized his readiness to shoulder greater responsibilities under Sarma’s leadership. Krishnendu Paul described his inclusion in the cabinet as a “blessing from Maa Kamakhya” and vowed to work with devotion.
Prasanta Phukon, who had long awaited a cabinet role, expressed deep satisfaction and described it as a culmination of years of perseverance. Rupesh Goala, meanwhile, thanked the party leadership, the Chief Minister, and his constituents, pledging to serve with integrity and diligence.
Ahead of the swearing-in, Kaushik Rai, Krishnendu Paul, and Rupesh Goala visited the Maa Kamakhya Temple, seeking divine blessings for their new roles.
The event drew an enthusiastic crowd, especially supporters from Barak Valley, who travelled to Guwahati to witness the swearing-in ceremony.
With the induction of the four new ministers, the Assam Council of Ministers now has 19 members, including the Chief Minister. As per constitutional provisions, the council can have a maximum of 20 members, leaving one position vacant for future appointments.
Chief Minister Sarma hinted at significant changes within ministerial offices, including a possible reshuffle of administrative responsibilities to streamline governance and ease the workload of existing ministers. “The inclusion of four new members will create room for better allocation of responsibilities, ensuring efficiency in governance,” Sarma remarked.
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