Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal expands cabinet, inducts two new faces

Both Jogen Mohan and Sanjay Kishan are first time MLAs and replace Pallab Lochan Das and Tapan Gogoi who were elected to the Lok Sabha last year.

Published on: Jan 18, 2020, 12:02:46 IST

Hindustan Times, Guwahati | By Utpal Parashar

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Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal expanded his cabinet on Saturday by inducting two new faces taking the total number of ministers in the three-and-half- year-old ministry to 18.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inducted two MLAs into his council of ministers on Saturday. (HT Photo)

Governor Jagdish Mukhi administered oath of office to Jogen Mohan and Sanjay Kishan as ministers of state with independent charge at a brief ceremony held at the Raj Bhawan in the morning. Both are first time MLAs.

The event was attended by Sonowal, senior ministers of his cabinet, MPs, MLAs and bureaucrats.

The expansion follows election of two ministers, Pallab Lochan Das and Tapan Gogoi, to the Lok Sabha last year.

“I will work with all Tinsukia residents and with their blessings perform any task assignment to me as part of my duty,” Tinsukia MLA Sanjay Kishan told journalists prior to his swearing in.

Following the induction of new ministers, there is talk of reshuffle of portfolios of some ministers.

“I am extremely happy. I thank people of my constituency, the CM and the party leadership for this opportunity and promise to work with honesty and dedication,” said Mahmora MLA Jogen Mohan.

The BJP’s alliance partners Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodo People’s Front (BPF) have three ministers each in the council of ministers.

Election of the state BJP president is also slated to take place on Saturday and incumbent Ranjit Kumar Dass is expected to get reappointed for another term.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

Assam Cabinet Expansion

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