Assam Cabinet Expansion Set for December 7: Four New Ministers to Take Oath
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Guwahati, December 5 (NationPress) Four legislators are poised to be sworn in as ministers during the upcoming expansion of the Assam Cabinet, led by Himanta Biswa Sarma, on December 7. The oath-taking ceremony is set to occur on Saturday at 12 p.m.
Sharing the news on X, Assam CM Sarma expressed: "I am pleased to announce that the following colleagues will be sworn in as ministers in our cabinet on 7th December at 12 p.m."
CM Sarma went on to disclose the names of the four MLAs joining his Cabinet:
1. Prasanta Phookan.
2. Kaushik Rai.
3. Krishnendu Paul.
4. Rupesh Goala.
"Wishing them all the best!" CM Sarma's post on X stated.
This marks the first expansion of the Assam Cabinet since Himanta Biswa Sarma assumed the role of Chief Minister three years ago.
There are currently four vacancies in the Cabinet—three of which have existed since Sarma took office. One position became vacant following the election of former minister Parimal Suklabaidya to the 2024 Lok Sabha.
Kaushik Rai is expected to fill the vacancy left by Suklabaidya, as they both hail from the same district.
Prasanta Phookan represents Dibrugarh, while Krishnendu Paul serves the Patharkandi constituency in Sribhumi district.
Rupesh Goala is an MLA from the Doom Dooma constituency in Tinsukia district.
Both Rai and Goala were elected as MLAs during the 2021 Assembly elections, while Paul has won the Patharkandi seat twice under the BJP banner.
Prasanta Phookan is a senior BJP figure and a four-time MLA from Dibrugarh, having not faced defeat since the 2006 Assembly election.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was recently in the national capital and conducted a Cabinet meeting via virtual platform on Wednesday evening, where significant decisions were made regarding the prohibition on beef consumption in Assam.
Sarma noted: "We previously enacted a restriction on beef consumption within a 5 km radius of temples and other places of worship. However, we have now resolved to impose a total ban on the consumption of beef in public areas in Assam starting today.
"This ban extends to the serving of beef in hotels, restaurants, and any community festivals within the state. Offenders will face penalties as stipulated by law," he added.
