Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma retains Home, Power in cabinet portfolio allocation
Synopsis
Three days after swearing in 16 ministers, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma formalised the full cabinet portfolio list on 8 June — keeping Home, Power, and both PWD wings for himself while distributing Finance, Health, and Agriculture among senior colleagues. Two berths remain vacant, keeping coalition arithmetic in play.
Key Takeaways
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announced cabinet portfolio allocations on 8 June , with approval from Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya .
Sarma retains Home and Political Affairs , Power , Public Works Department (Roads and Buildings), and Information .
Jayanta Mallabaruah gets Finance , Environment and Forest , and Mines and Minerals ; Ashok Singhal takes Health and Medical Education .
The cabinet comprises the Chief Minister and 16 ministers ; 2 berths remain vacant .
Allocation came 3 days after the cabinet expansion and followed CM Sarma's stated intent to review administrative needs before finalising portfolios.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday, 8 June announced the distribution of portfolios among members of the newly constituted Assam Council of Ministers, retaining charge of critical departments including Home and Political Affairs, Power, and Public Works, while assigning major governance responsibilities to Cabinet colleagues. The notification was issued with the approval of Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya.
Key Portfolio Allocations
Jayanta Mallabaruah was entrusted with the high-profile Finance, Environment and Forest, and Mines and Minerals departments. Ashok Singhal takes charge of Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education and Research — two departments central to the state's public welfare agenda.
Ranoj Pegu continues to oversee School Education, Higher Education, Tribal Affairs (Plain), and Information Technology. Pijush Hazarika was assigned Agriculture, Irrigation, and Parliamentary Affairs, while Bimal Borah received Cultural Affairs, Industries, Commerce and Public Enterprises, and Act East Policy Affairs.
Biswajit Daimary was allocated Handloom, Textiles and Sericulture, Sports and Youth Welfare, Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship, and Indigenous and Tribal Faith and Culture. Kaushik Rai was entrusted with Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Cooperation.
Keshab Mahanta will handle Revenue and Disaster Management, Science, Technology and Climate Change, and General Administration. Krishnendu Paul received Public Health Engineering and Hill Areas and Barak Valley Development, while Nilima Devi will oversee Animal Husbandry and Veterinary and Fishery departments.
Ashwini Ray Sarkar was assigned Social Justice and Empowerment, Soil Conservation, and Welfare of Minorities and Development. Susanta Borgohain received the Water Resources and Judicial portfolios.
CM Sarma's Departments
Beyond Home and Power, Chief Minister Sarma also retains Public Works Department (Buildings and National Highways), Public Works Department (Roads), Information, Public Relations, Printing and Stationery, and any department not specifically allocated to another minister — a broad administrative mandate that consolidates significant executive authority at the top.
Background: Cabinet Expansion Timeline
The portfolio allocation comes three days after the expansion of the Assam Council of Ministers on 5 June. On that date, CM Sarma had indicated that portfolios would be assigned only after a detailed review of administrative requirements and individual ministerial strengths. The cabinet currently comprises the Chief Minister and 16 Cabinet ministers, with two berths still vacant.
Notably, four ministers — Rameshwar Teli, Ajanta Neog, Atol Bora, and Charan Boro — were inducted in the previous month and took oath alongside CM Sarma following the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA)'s decisive victory in the Assam Assembly elections.
What's Next
With portfolios now formalised, the newly structured cabinet is expected to convene its first full working session shortly. The two remaining vacant berths may signal further political negotiations within the NDA coalition in Assam. CM Sarma expressed confidence that the team would collectively accelerate the state's development agenda and serve the people of Assam.
Point of View
Power, and both PWD wings — in addition to Information and PR — is a consolidation of hard-power and narrative-control portfolios at the chief ministerial level, a pattern consistent with his governance style since 2021. Handing Finance to Jayanta Mallabaruah is significant: it signals trust in a technocratic hand at a time when Assam is navigating post-flood infrastructure spending and central devolution pressures. The two vacant cabinet berths are not administrative oversight — they are almost certainly leverage in ongoing NDA coalition management. Watch those seats to read the next political signal from Dispur.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which portfolios did Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma retain for himself?
CM Sarma retained Home and Political Affairs, Power, Public Works Department (Buildings and National Highways), Public Works Department (Roads), Information, Public Relations, and Printing and Stationery, along with any department not assigned to another minister.
Who got the Finance portfolio in the Assam cabinet?
Jayanta Mallabaruah was assigned the Finance department, along with Environment and Forest and Mines and Minerals, in the portfolio allocation announced on 8 June.
How many ministers are in the Assam cabinet after the expansion?
The Assam cabinet currently has the Chief Minister and 16 Cabinet ministers, with two berths still vacant following the expansion on 5 June.
Why was the portfolio allocation delayed after the cabinet expansion?
CM Sarma had stated on 5 June that portfolios would be assigned only after a detailed review of administrative requirements and individual ministerial strengths, leading to the three-day gap before the formal notification.
Who are the newly inducted ministers in the Assam cabinet?
Rameshwar Teli, Ajanta Neog, Atol Bora, and Charan Boro were inducted in the previous month and took oath alongside CM Sarma after the BJP-led NDA's victory in the Assam Assembly elections.
