The Sarbananda Sonowal-led ministry in Assam would be expanded on Thursday after almost two years of suspense owing to differences between the Bharatiya Janata Party and its two regional allies over berth share.
With 126 members in the Assembly, Assam can have 19 ministers. But the BJP-led coalition government has had 11 ministers since it was sworn in on May 24, 2016.
Governor Jagdish Mukhi will swear in seven more ministers — five of BJP and one each of coalition partners Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People’s Front.
The expansion had been put on hold because of a lack of consensus with AGP and BJP on the number of berths in the expanded cabinet. The two regional parties, currently with two berths each, had demanded two more.
While the BJP has 61 seats, AGP had won 14 and the BJP 12 in the 2016 Assembly election.
“The cabinet expansion was long overdue. We hope to improve our governance with the induction of the new faces,” said Chief Minister Sonowal.
Except for Chandan Brahma of BPF and Phani Bhushan Choudhury of AGP, all the new ministers would be first-timers. They include BJP’s Guwahati East MLA Siddhartha Bhattacharya, who had preceded Mr Sonowal as the president of the party’s State unit.
“I am a fielder in the cricket field of governance. I will field anywhere the captain asks me to, whether in the slips, or gully, or mid-on, or third man,” said Mr. Bhattacharya.
“I am thankful to our party’s State and Central leadership for giving me the responsibility,” said Tapan Kumar Gogoi, former All Assam Students’ Union leader and BJP’s legislator from Sonari.
