Assam CM allocates portfolios to 12 newly inducted ministers

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday allocated portfolios to 12 newly inducted ministers.

The chief minister retained Home and Political, PWD, Power, Information and Public Relations, and departments not allotted to any other minister.

He made the announcements in a social media post.

Among the senior ministers, Ranoj Pegu retained the Education Department, Ashok Singhal has been allocated his previous Health & Family Welfare, and Medical Education & Research, while Bimal Borah has been given Cultural Affairs and Industries, Commerce & Public Enterprises, and Act East Policy Affairs.

Pegu has also been given the responsibility of Tribal Affairs (Plains) and Information Technology.

The Finance Ministry has been given to Sarma’s close associate Jayanta Malla Baruah, along with the Environment and Forest, and Mines and Minerals departments. “With the approval of the Hon’ble Governor of Assam, I am pleased to announce the allocation of portfolios amongst the members of the Council of Ministers of the Government of Assam,” Sarma posted on X. The 12 ministers were sworn in on June 5, while four other ministers were administered the oath of office on May 12 along with the chief minister.

The portfolios of the four ministers were announced earlier.

Former speaker Biswajit Daimary, who was also inducted into the ministry, has been allocated Handloom, Textiles & Sericulture, Sports and Youth Welfare; Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship; and Indigenous, Tribal Faith and Culture departments.

AGP’s Keshab Mahanta, a minister in the NDA government since 2016, has been allocated Revenue & Disaster Management, Science, Technology and Climate Change, and General Administration portfolios.

Pijush Hazarika, a close associate of Sarma since his Congress days, has been given Agriculture, Irrigation and Parliamentary Affairs.

Kaushik Rai, also a minister in the previous Government, has been given the responsibility of Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs; Housing and Urban Affairs, and Cooperation departments.

Krishnendu Paul has been allocated the Public Health Engineering, Hill Areas and Barak Valley Development portfolios.