The much-awaited Cabinet expansion of Assam is likely to take place after the Rongali Bihu festival, which is scheduled in mid-April.
President of the Assam unit of the BJP, Ranjit Das onWednesday said this while adding that the expansion of a total of eight Ministers are likely to be accommodated in the Ministry including one Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and one Bodoland Peoples’ Front (BPF) legislators.
“The expansion of the Cabinet is a prerogative of the Chief Minister. However, I am told that there will be eight new Ministers who will be accommodated in the Cabinet. While there will be one legislator each from the AGP and BPF, six BJP legislators will be inducted in the Ministry,” said the BJP president.
“The Chief Minister will take a decision after holding talks with our Central leadership. I cannot spell anyone’s name so far. I can only say that the expansion will be done with due respect for senior legislators and with love for the new and junior ones,” said Das.
A total of eleven Ministers had taken oath after the BJP led alliance formed the Government in Assam in May last year. While the BJP had accommodated two AGP legislators in the Cabinet, two more Ministers were accommodated in the Cabinet from the BPF.
It may be mentioned here that the BJP government in Assam had recently appointed 43 leaders as chairmen, vice chairmen and directors in 28 corporations, boards and other public sector units of the State which includes only four AGP legislators and three BPF legislators.