Assam CM Delegates Departmental Control Ahead of Upcoming Assembly Elections
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Guwahati, Dec 9 (NationPress) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated on Monday that to allocate more time for the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state, he has transferred oversight of multiple departments that were previously under his administration.
With the next assembly elections scheduled for 2026, he expressed his intention to invest time in additional projects.
“I aim to concentrate on the next Assembly election this coming year. Thus, I have decided to reduce my responsibilities regarding the departments that assisted me,” he remarked.
Sarma further indicated that in the upcoming year, he plans to engage more with the populace.
“I will dedicate more time to the people of Assam in the year ahead. This was the rationale behind the cabinet expansion,” he explained.
Recently, four ministers—Prasanta Phookan, Kaushik Rai, Krishnendu Paul, and Rupesh Goala—were added to the Cabinet.
This marks the first cabinet expansion since Himanta Biswa Sarma assumed the Chief Minister role three years ago.
Within the cabinet, there were four vacancies—three of which had existed since Sarma took office, and one became available after former minister Parimal Suklabaidya secured a win in this year's Lok Sabha elections.
Kaushik Rai replaces Parimal Suklabaidya, as both hail from the same Cachar district in the Barak valley.
Prasanta Phookan is an MLA representing Dibrugarh, while Krishnendu Paul serves the Patharkandi Assembly constituency in the Sribhumi district.
Rupesh Goala is a legislator from the Doom Dooma constituency in the Tinsukia district.
Both Rai and Goala were elected as MLAs in the 2021 Assembly elections, whereas Paul has won on a BJP ticket for the Patharkandi Assembly seat in both 2016 and 2021. Previously, he was affiliated with the Congress party before switching allegiance prior to the 2016 Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Kishan was asked to step down from his ministerial role and was succeeded by Rupesh Goala.
However, Sarma mentioned that Kishan would remain focused on his Assembly duties and the party would assign him appropriate responsibilities.
