Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Assam cabinet will be expanded with the induction of 12 ministers

Assam, Guwahati: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the expansion of his ministry with 12 new MLAs set to be inducted as cabinet ministers. The new inductees include 11 BJP legislators and one from the BJP ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). Notable new ministers are Ashwini Roy Sarkar, Ashok Singhal, Bimal Bora, Biswajit Daimari, Jayant Mulla Baroua, Kaushik Rai, Krishnendu Pal, Neelima Devi, Piyush Hazarika, Ronoj Pegu, and Susanta Borgohai, along with Keshab Mahanta from AGP. Some ministers, such as Nilima Devi, Ashwini Roy Sarkar, Biswajit Daimary, and Susanta Borgohain, are first-time ministers, while Daimary is a former Assam Assembly Speaker.

The cabinet composition reflects a prioritization of certain ethnic groups. Three Brahmin ministers represent districts including Kamrup Metropolitan, Nagaon, and Darang. The Chutia ethnic group has representation through Atul Bora, Ajanta Neog, and Bimal Bora. Other ethnic groups represented include the Hindi speakers Ashok Singhal and Kaushik Rai, Boro community members Biswajit Daimari and Charan Boro, and representatives from the Bengali, Kaiwart, Miching, Tea Tribe, Ahom, Koch Rajbongshi, and Kalita communities. However, the Karbi and Maran/Matak ethnic groups, significant in Assam, have no ministerial representation. Assam’s 126-member Assembly allows a maximum ministry strength of 19, and after this expansion, two more ministers may be inducted. The NDA retained power with 102 seats, BJP 82, Congress 19, AIUDF and Raijor Dal two each, and Trinamool Congress one.