Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday announced the allocation of portfolios among members of the newly constituted Council of Ministers, retaining several key departments, including Home, Power and Public Works while assigning major responsibilities to Cabinet colleagues.
In a notification issued with the approval of Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, CM Sarma said the distribution of departments has been undertaken to ensure efficient governance and accelerate the state’s development agenda.
The Chief Minister retained charge of Home and Political Affairs, Power, Public Works Department (Buildings and National Highways), Public Works Department (Roads), Information, Public Relations, Printing and Stationery, besides any department not specifically allocated to another minister.
Among the prominent allocations, Jayanta Mallabaruah was entrusted with the Finance, Environment and Forest, and Mines and Minerals departments, while Ashok Singhal was given charge of Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education and Research.
Ranoj Pegu will continue to oversee School Education, Higher Education, Tribal Affairs (Plain) and Information Technology.
Pijush Hazarika was assigned Agriculture, Irrigation and Parliamentary Affairs, while Bimal Borah received Cultural Affairs, Industries, Commerce and Public Enterprises, along with Act East Policy Affairs.
Biswajit Daimary was allocated Handloom, Textiles and Sericulture, Sports and Youth Welfare, Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship, and Indigenous and Tribal Faith and Culture.
Kaushik Rai was entrusted with Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Cooperation.
Keshab Mahanta will handle Revenue and Disaster Management, Science, Technology and Climate Change, and General Administration.
Krishnendu Paul was given Public Health Engineering, Hill Areas and Barak Valley Development, while Nilima Devi will oversee Animal Husbandry and Veterinary and Fishery departments.
Ashwini Ray Sarkar was assigned Social Justice and Empowerment, Soil Conservation and Welfare of Minorities and Development.
Susanta Borgohain received Water Resources and Judicial portfolios.
CM Sarma extended his best wishes to all members of the Council of Ministers and expressed confidence that the team would work collectively to serve the people of Assam and further accelerate the state’s progress and prosperity.
The portfolio allocation comes three days after the expansion of the Assam Council of Ministers.
On June 5, the Chief Minister had said that portfolios would be allotted only after a detailed review of administrative requirements and the strengths of individual ministers. He had stated that the government would carefully assess departmental performance and governance needs before finalising the distribution of responsibilities.
The Assam Cabinet currently comprises the Chief Minister and 16 Cabinet ministers sworn in after the NDA’s victory in the recent Assembly elections.
The cabinet still has two vacant berths. Four ministers — Rameshwar Teli, Ajanta Neog, Atol Bora and Charan Boro — were inducted into the cabinet in the previous month, and they took oath along with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma following the massive win by the BJP-led NDA in Assam Assembly polls.
(IANS)
