Assam Cabinet expanded, 12 MLAs sworn in

Screengrab taken from Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s X handle. Assam CM with Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya during swearing in ceremony of 12 MLAs.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday (June 5, 2026) expanded his cabinet, taking the number of members of the Council of Ministers to 17.

Assam can have a maximum of 19 ministers, including the Chief Minister, based on the total 126 seats in the State Assembly.

Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office to 12 MLAs — 11 from the BJP and one from the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) — at the Jyoti-Bishnu Antarjatik Kala Mandir in Guwahati.

“It is a balanced team that represents the aspirations of all sections of the people and their experience and wisdom will further strengthen our resolve to build a Viksit (developed) Assam,” the chief minister said after the swearing-in ceremony.

Mr. Sarma was sworn in as Chief Minister on May 12 along with Rameswar Teli and Ajanta Neog (BJP), Atul Bora (AGP) and Charan Bodo of the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF). Mr. Teli, a former Union minister, became a minister in the state for the first time.

Eight of the 12 newly appointed ministers are experienced. They are Ashok Singhal, Bimal Borah, Jayanta Mallabaruah, Kaushik Rai, Krishnendu Paul, Pijush Hazarika and Ranoj Pegu of BJP and Keshab Mahanta of AGP.

Others include Nilima Devi, first MLA, Biswajit Daimary, former Rajya Sabha member who also served as Assembly Speaker from 2021 to 2026, Sushanta Borgohain and Ashwini Ray Sarkar.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance swept the Assam Assembly elections on April 9, winning 102 seats to retain power. BJP won 82 seats while allies AGP and BPF won 10 seats each.

The Congress won 19 seats, the minority All India United Democratic Front and the Raijor Dal two each, while one seat went to the Trinamool Congress.

Published – 05 Jun 2026 13:51 IST