Shillong, July 7: The whole of North East is elated after PM Narendra Modi inducted four leaders from the region into his Council of Ministers on Wednesday in a major reshuffle of his Cabinet in hopes of reinvigorating the working and overall efficacy of his government.
The four new Union Ministers include Kiren Rijiju from Arunachal Pradesh, Sarbananda Sonowal from Assam, Dr. R.K. Ranjan Singh from Manipur, and Pratima Bhowmik from Tripura. Each leader represents a state ruled by the BJP in the region.
Of the four, Dr. R.K. Ranjan Singh and Pratima Bhowmik are first time members of Union Cabinet whereas Kiren Rijiju was holding the portfolio of Sports and Youth Affairs before Wednesday, while Sarbananda Sonowal has served as Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs from 2014 to 2016.
43 leaders were given a seat in the Union Cabinet on Wednesday, 36 of which are new faces. This has expanded the Union Cabinet to 77 members. Meanwhile, atleast 13 Union Ministers have resigned to accommodate the new members.
Congratulatory messages from Chief Ministers on North East
Leaders from the region have poured wishes on the leaders for making it to Union Cabinet as well as thanking PM Modi for his gesture of giving noticeable representation to the region.
Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma took to his twitter handle to wish the leaders. He said: “Meghalaya and the whole of North East is elated with the induction of Sh. @KirenRijiju Ji and Sh. @sarbanandsonwal into the Union Cabinet today. The #CabinetReshuffle proves inclusivity and diversity which is the essence of a New India.”
He also congratulated Dr. R.K. Ranjan Singh and Pratima Bhowmik. He said he is happy to witness the strong representation of North East in the Union Cabinet and also thanked PM Narendra Modi for the same.
Meghalaya and the whole of North East is elated with the induction of Sh. @KirenRijiju Ji and Sh. @sarbanandsonwal into the Union Cabinet today. The #CabinetReshuffle proves inclusivity and diversity which is the essence of a New India. Congratulations brothers! pic.twitter.com/iCCRO6BX4b
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) July 7, 2021
I would also like to congratulate Dr. R.K Ranjan Singh and Smti. Pratima Bhowmik also from the North East for being enlisted into the Union Cabinet today. Happy to witness the strong representation of North East in the #CabinetExpansion2021. Thank you Hon’ble PM @narendramodi Ji.
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) July 7, 2021
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Assam elated and honoured for inducting Sonowal in the Union Cabinet. He also congratulated the other three leaders from the region besides the 39 leaders included in the Cabinet from other parts of the nation.
My sincere gratitude to you Aadarniya PM Sri @narendramodi for giving Assam the great honor by inducting Sri @sarbanandsonwal as a Cabinet Minister in Union Cabinet.
Assam is elated today. We’re proud & grateful to you.@PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/JMdfzIORRK
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 7, 2021
He wrote on his Facebook handle: “My sincere gratitude to you Aadarniya PM Sri Narendra Modi for giving Assam the great honor by inducting Sri Sarbananda Sonowal as a Cabinet Minister in Union Cabinet. Assam is elated today. We’re proud & grateful to you. Heartiest congratulations to Sri Sonowal on taking oath as a Cabinet Minister. We are grateful to you for steering #Assam so successfully for five years. Your enormous administrative experience & acumen shall immensely benefit the Government. My best wishes.”
Manipur Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh said Manipur is honoured by giving responsibility of a Council of Minister to Dr. R.K. Ranjan Singh. He twitted: “My humble gratitude to Hon’ble PM Sri @narendramodi ji for giving honour to a small state, Manipur, by giving responsibility of a Council of Minister to Shri @RanjanRajkuma11 ji under your dynamic leadership. Manipur is rejoicing today & will always remain grateful to you.”
My humble gratitude to Hon’ble PM Sri @narendramodi ji for giving honour to a small state, Manipur, by giving responsibility of a Council of Minister to Shri @RanjanRajkuma11 ji under your dynamic leadership.
Manipur is rejoicing today & will always remain grateful to you. pic.twitter.com/VTYVdfRwQA
— N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) July 7, 2021
He added that Dr. Ranjan Singh’s enormous knowledge and experience in several responsibilities will be of great significance to achieve the vision of PM Modi.
Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu wished both Rijiju and Sonowal. He said Sonowal is an inspiration to all from the region and he was highly hopeful of his positive and impactful role in the development of the country. For Rijiju, he said the State is eagerly looking forward to his “tremendous zeal, passion and energy in bringing change”.
Your elevation to the post of a Union Cabinet Minister brings great joy and pride.
My best wishes and hearty congratulations Shri @KirenRijiju Ji on being sworn in today.
We eagerly look forward to your tremendous zeal, passion and energy in bringing change. pic.twitter.com/WEkH2hLDxm
— Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) July 7, 2021
Congratulations to Shri @sarbanandsonwal Ji on being sworn in as a Union Cabinet Minister.
My best wishes on your new role. You are an inspiration to all of us.
We are highly hopeful of your positive and impactful role in the development of our country. pic.twitter.com/X5kyXbUOf1
— Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) July 7, 2021
Tripura Chief Minister, Biplab Kumar Deb said it is a moment of immense pride for the State that Pratima Bhowmik, a foremost representative of ‘Nari Shakti’ (women power) in the state, has been given a seat in the Union Cabinet.
A moment of immense pride for #Tripura that @PratimaBhoumik ji, a foremost representative of #NariShakti of the state, has joined PM Shri @narendramodi led Union Council of Ministers.
I extend my heartiest wishes and pray to Ma Tripursundari for her success as a Union Minister. pic.twitter.com/zeXsdDLkT1
— Biplab Kumar Deb (@BjpBiplab) July 7, 2021
