Guwahati: 4 New Faces In Assam Ministry To Be Inducted on December 7

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while in Mumbai on Thursday evening, announced on social media platform X the names of four legislators set to be inducted into his cabinet.

The four legislators who will join the Assam cabinet are Prasanta Phookan (Dibrugarh), Kaushik Rai (Lakhipur, Cachar), Krishnendu Paul (Patharkandi, Karimganj, now Sribhumi), and Rupesh Goala (Doomduma, Tinsukia). Meanwhile, the current Labour and Tea Tribe Welfare Minister, Sanjay Kishan, has been asked to resign.

The Assam government is preparing for a cabinet expansion to address mounting demands for better regional representation and to ease the workload on current ministers, many of whom manage multiple portfolios. The reshuffle is also seen as a strategic move ahead of the 2026 assembly elections to streamline governance and administration.

The Assam cabinet currently comprises 15 members, including Chief Minister Sarma, leaving room for three more appointments, as the capacity is capped at 18 members.

A significant issue has been the lack of representation from Barak Valley since former minister Parimal Suklabaidya resigned after being elected to the Lok Sabha earlier this year. His absence has left the region without a voice in the state cabinet, leading to growing calls for inclusivity.

Political observers speculate that at least one of the new appointees will represent Barak Valley, restoring balance and ensuring regional aspirations are addressed. This reshuffle is being viewed as a critical step toward effective governance as the state gears up for assembly polls.