Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expanded his cabinet on Saturday with the induction of four BJP MLAs, enhancing representation from tea districts and the Barak Valley.
The oath of office was administered by Governor Laxman Prasad Acharya at the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati.
The new ministers—Prasanta Phookan, Kaushik Rai, Krishnendu Paul, and Rupesh Goala—were welcomed in the presence of the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues.
Following the ceremony, Sarma expressed optimism about the expanded team’s role in achieving development goals, stating on X, "Congratulations to all my colleagues who have taken oath today. Looking forward to working with them to fulfil Adarniya Shri @narendramodi ji's vision of a Viksit Assam."
Phookan, a four-term MLA from Dibrugarh, is a veteran BJP leader, while Goala, a former student leader from the tea tribe community, won his maiden election in 2021 from Doom Dooma. The Barak Valley was represented by first-time MLAs Rai and Paul, who hail from Lakhipur and Patharkandi, respectively.
The cabinet expansion elevates Sarma’s council to 19 members. The reshuffle was necessitated by the resignation of Tea Welfare and Labour Minister Sanjay Kishan, who stepped down to make way for Goala. Kishan has since been appointed as Chairman of the Food and Civil Supplies Department.
Notably, Parimal Suklabaidya resigned earlier this year after his election to the Lok Sabha from Silchar (SC) constituency, leaving a vacancy in the council.
All the newly sworn-in ministers expressed gratitude to Sarma and pledged to prioritise the development of Assam. They are yet to be assigned portfolios, with the chief minister expected to finalise departmental allocations later on Saturday.
This expansion comes as Sarma continues to strengthen the NDA government, which comprises the BJP, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), and United People's Party, Liberal (UPPL). The ruling alliance holds 84 seats in the 126-member Assam Legislative Assembly.
Phookan’s appointment further strengthens representation from the tea districts, as he joins Goala from Tinsukia. Similarly, Rai and Paul’s inclusion amplifies the Barak Valley’s presence in the government. The new ministers will participate in their first cabinet meeting scheduled for later tonight.
Sarma’s cabinet was initially formed on 10 May 2021, with 15 ministers, and later expanded on 9 June 2022 to include two BJP legislators, Nandita Garlosa and Jayanta Malla Baruah.
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