Guwahati, Jun 5 (PTI): BJP MLAs Ranoj Pegu, Ashok Singhal, Biswajit Daimary and AGP’s Keshab Mahanta were among the 12 legislators who took oath as ministers on Friday as Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expanded his cabinet, taking the strength of the council of ministers to 17.
Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office and secrecy to the MLAs at a function at the Jyoti-Bishnu Antarjatik Kala Mandir here.
The chief minister, Union ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and Pabitra Margherita, Assam Assembly Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass, BJP state president Dilip Saikia and several NDA MLAs were present at the event.
“It’s a balanced team which represents the aspirations of all sections of people and their experience and wisdom will further strengthen our resolve of building a #ViksitAssam,” the CM said about the new ministers in a post on X.
In another post, Sarma said, ‘’TeamAssam has grown today and is ready to serve the people with renewed zeal’’.
Congratulating all those who have taken the oath, the CM said their experience and wisdom will add immense value to the Council of Ministers and chart the path to fast-paced growth and prosperity.
Among the new faces in the cabinet are BJP’s Ashwini Ray Sarkar, Nilima Devi and Sushanta Borgohain.
Ray Sarkar, representing Golakganj in Dhubri district, became an MLA for a second time this year after 2016.
Nilima Devi, the president of the BJP’s Mahila Morcha, has been elected to the assembly for the first time and represents the Mangaldoi constituency.
