Sonowal distributes portfolios, keeps home; Sarma gets finance

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has kept the home and political department with him while he has given important portfolios like finance, planning and development, health & family welfare as well as the education department to Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Sarma, who was a cabinet minister of the erstwhile Congress government in Assam led by then chief minister Tarun Gogoi, was the minister for health & family welfare and education departments. It is only last year that Sarma resigned from the cabinet after differences with Gogoi and subsequently joined the BJP.

Besides, the Home and Political departments, Sonowal has also kept departments like GAD, SAD, administrative reform and training, border area development, social welfare, I&PR, revenue and disaster management, power, implementation of Assam Accord and any other departments not allotted to any other ministers.

President of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Atul Bora, who was also accommodated in the cabinet, was given the charge of Agriculture, Horticulture and food processing, animal husbandry and veterinary, Urban development department and Town and country planning departments.

Senior AGP leader, Keshav Mahanta was given the portfolios of water resource, science and technology, and information & technology departments.

On the other hand, senior BPF leader Pramila Rani Brahma was given the charge of environment and forests, soil conservation and mines and mineral departments. Another BPF leader Rihan Daimary was given the portfolios of public health engineering, food and civil supply and consumer affairs.

BJP leader from Barak Valley Parimal Shuklabaidya was given the portfolios of PWD, Fishery and excise while another senior BJP leader Chandra Mohan Patowary was given the portfolios of commerce and industry, transport and parliamentary affairs.

BJP's Ranjit Dutta was given the portfolios of Irrigation and Handloom and Textiles while BJP leader Naba Doley, who was inducted as Minister of state (Independent charge) was given the portfolios of Panchayati Raj and Rural development, youth welfare and cultural affairs. Another Minister of state, Pallab Lochan Das was given the portfolios of Labour and employment and tea tribes welfare.

--IANS

ah/rn/bg