The Assam Council of Ministers was expanded on Friday with the induction of 12 new Cabinet Ministers in a grand swearing-in ceremony held at the Jyoti-Bishnu Antarjatik Kala Mandir in Guwahati. The move marks a significant step in the formation of the new government following the BJP-led NDA’s emphatic victory in the recently concluded Assembly elections.
Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly inducted ministers in the presence of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, senior government officials, legislators, and other dignitaries.
The ministers who took oath include Ashwini Ray Sarkar, Ashok Singhal, Bimal Borah, Biswajit Daimary, Jayant Mallabaruah, Kaushik Rai, Keshab Mahanta, Krishnendu Paul, Nilima Devi, Pijush Hazarika, Dr. Ranoj Pegu, and Susanta Borgohain.
Among the newly inducted ministers, four have entered the state Cabinet for the first time. These are Ashwini Ray Sarkar, Biswajit Daimary, Nilima Devi, and Susanta Borgohain. Nilima Devi is the sole woman minister among the latest entrants, adding female representation to the expanded Council of Ministers.
The Cabinet expansion also reflects the alliance dynamics within the ruling coalition. While Keshab Mahanta represents the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), all the other newly inducted ministers belong to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
With the latest expansion, the strength of the Assam Council of Ministers has increased to 17, including the Chief Minister. Under constitutional provisions, Assam can have a maximum of 19 ministers, including the Chief Minister, leaving room for two more appointments if required in the future.
The Cabinet expansion comes less than a month after the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a decisive mandate in the Assam Assembly elections, paving the way for a second consecutive term under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s leadership. Political observers view the expansion as an effort to balance regional, social, and organizational representation within the government while rewarding key leaders for their contributions to the party’s electoral success.
With the ministry now largely taking shape, attention has shifted to the allocation of portfolios. The Chief Minister is expected to announce the distribution of departments among the newly sworn-in ministers in the coming days. The portfolio allocation will determine the administrative responsibilities of the ministers and set the tone for the government's governance agenda in its new term.
The expanded Cabinet is expected to play a crucial role in implementing the NDA government's development priorities, strengthening governance, and delivering on key electoral promises across Assam over the next five years.
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