In a significant move to streamline governance, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday effected a major reshuffle of portfolios, assigning new departments to four newly inducted ministers and making strategic changes in the existing cabinet.
The reshuffle comes after the expansion of the cabinet on Saturday.
Sarma, who retains the key departments of Home, Public Works Building, National Highways, Public Works Roads, and Medical Education and Research, will also oversee Personnel and any other department not specifically allocated to other ministers, according to an official notification issued by Chief Secretary Ravi Kota.
Among the new ministers, Prasanta Phukan has been assigned the Power, Skill Development, and Employment & Entrepreneurship departments.
He will also assist the Chief Minister in the Medical Education and Research portfolio.
Kaushik Rai will manage the Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Mines and Minerals, and the newly established Barak Valley Development departments.
Krishnendu Paul has been given responsibility for the departments of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, and Fishery.
He will also assist in the Public Works Roads department.
Rupesh Gowala will oversee the Labour Welfare, and Tea Tribes and Adivasi Welfare departments.
He will also assist the Chief Minister in the Home department.
Meanwhile, Ajanta Neog will retain her responsibilities for the Finance and Women and Child Development departments.
Ashok Singhal has been assigned the Health and Family Welfare department, in addition to his existing role overseeing the Irrigation department.
Atul Bora continues to hold his portfolios of Agriculture, Border Protection and Development, Horticulture, and the Implementation of the Assam Accord.
He has also been given charge of the Excise department.
In a further shake-up, Ranjeet Kumar Dass will head the newly created Tourism department, Keshab Mahanta will manage Revenue and Disaster Management, and Jayanta Malla Baruah has been given charge of Parliamentary Affairs and Housing and Urban Affairs.
