Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said that at least two new ministers would be sworn into his cabinet on Thursday.
Earlier, the chief minister stated that one from Karbi Anglong’s hill district constituency will most likely be appointed in his cabinet on June 9.
Though there were rumours that Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) will be included as a BJP coalition partner in the state administration, Sarma has dismissed the rumours.
He said, “Not one, but two ministers will be present at a gathering in Guwahati tomorrow. Both ministers will be BJP members.”
Despite the fact that Sarma’s state administration has been in power for a year, there has been no cabinet expansion. The CM has stated that the expansion or reshuffle of his cabinet might take place in November of this year.
However, Sarma did not reveal the identity of the person who would be appointed to the state government.
The BJP-led alliance’s 14-member cabinet was sworn in on May 10 of last year, and Sarma still has the option of filling up to four more vacancies. There were 11 BJP members in the ministry, two Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) members, and one UPPL member.
As per Article 164(1A), a state’s total number of ministers cannot exceed 15% of its legislative assembly’s total number of members. According to the law, Assam’s 126-member assembly can have a maximum of 18 ministers, including the chief minister.