Assam Chief Minister Retains Key Departments in New Cabinet

Cabinet Portfolio Allocation Announced

Guwahati, June 8: Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has maintained oversight of five crucial departments, including Home, Power, and both Public Works departments, as he revealed the distribution of portfolios among the 12 members of his newly formed Council of Ministers on Monday.

Sarma expressed his best wishes to his ministerial colleagues via social media, emphasizing that their collective dedication would enhance the state's progress and prosperity.

With the Governor's endorsement, Sarma has secured control over the state's security, infrastructure, energy, and communication sectors.

As per the announcement, Sarma will manage the Home & Political department, which oversees police and internal security, in addition to PWD (Buildings & National Highways), PWD (Roads), Power, and Information, Public Relations, Printing & Stationery. He will also supervise any department not assigned to another minister.

Noteworthy allocations include Jayanta Mallabaruah, who has been assigned a significant economic portfolio encompassing Finance, Environment & Forest, and Mines & Minerals, thereby consolidating revenue and natural resource management under one minister.

Ashok Singhal will oversee Health & Family Welfare and Medical Education & Research, while Ranoj Pegu returns to his previous roles in School and Higher Education, now also managing Tribal Affairs (Plain) and Information Technology.

Krishnendu Paul's responsibilities include Public Health Engineering, Hill Areas, and Barak Valley Development, strategically grouping the state's hill and valley minority regions under one minister.

Pijush Hazarika will manage Agriculture, Irrigation, and Parliamentary Affairs, while Keshab Mahanta takes on Revenue & Disaster Management, Science, Technology & Climate Change, and General Administration.

Bimal Borah is tasked with Cultural Affairs, Industries, Commerce & Public Enterprises, and Act East Policy Affairs, positioning him as a key figure in the state's economic outreach.

Biswajit Daimary will oversee Handloom, Textiles & Sericulture, Sports & Youth Welfare, Skill, Employment & Entrepreneurship, and Indigenous & Tribal Faith & Culture, while Kaushik Rai manages Food, Public Distribution & Consumer Affairs, Housing & Urban Affairs, and Cooperation.

Ashwini Ray Sarkar leads Social Justice & Empowerment, Soil Conservation, and Welfare of Minorities & Development.

Nilima Devi, the only woman in the cabinet, is responsible for Animal Husbandry & Veterinary and Fishery. Susanta Borgohain completes the council with Water Resources and Judicial.

This portfolio distribution indicates that while governance duties are shared among a 13-member cabinet, the operational control of the state's most significant functions remains centralized, as it was during Sarma's previous term.