Himanta retains key portfolios in cabinet reshuffle

Guwahati, June 8: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has retained control of Assam’s key ministries, including Home, Public Works, Power and Information & Public Relations, as the state government announced the allocation of portfolios following the recent expansion of the council of ministers.

The Chief Minister will continue to oversee Home and Political, Public Works Department (Buildings and National Highways), Public Works Department (Roads), Power, and Information, Public Relations, Printing and Stationery. He will also hold charge of departments not specifically allocated to other ministers.

Among the major assignments, Jayanta Malla Baruah has been entrusted with Finance, Environment & Forest, and Mines & Minerals, while Ashok Singhal will continue to handle Health & Family Welfare and Medical Education & Research.

Ranoj Pegu has been assigned School Education, Higher Education, Tribal Affairs (Plain) and Information Technology. Pijush Hazarika will oversee Agriculture, Irrigation and Parliamentary Affairs, while Keshab Mahanta has been given Revenue & Disaster Management, Science, Technology & Climate Change and General Administration.

Bimal Borah will handle Cultural Affairs, Industries, Commerce & Public Enterprises and Act East Policy Affairs. Biswajit Daimary has been allocated Handloom, Textiles & Sericulture, Sports & Youth Welfare, Skill, Employment & Entrepreneurship, and Indigenous & Tribal Faith & Culture.

Kaushik Rai has been entrusted with Food, Public Distribution & Consumer Affairs, Housing & Urban Affairs and Cooperation. Krishnendu Paul will oversee Public Health Engineering, Hill Areas and Barak Valley Development.

Nilamani Sen Deka has been assigned Animal Husbandry & Veterinary and Fishery, while Susanta Borgohain will handle Water Resources and Judicial. Ashwini Ray Sarkar has been given charge of Social Justice & Empowerment, Soil Conservation and Welfare of Minorities & Development.

The portfolio allocation follows the induction of 12 new ministers into the Assam cabinet earlier this month. With the expansion, the strength of the Council of Ministers has risen to 17, including the Chief Minister, just two short of the constitutionally permitted maximum of 19 ministers in the 126-member Assam Legislative Assembly.

The distribution of portfolios provides the first clear picture of the government’s administrative structure as it enters a crucial phase ahead of the next Assembly elections.

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