GUWAHATI: After months of speculation, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said he will expand his 13-month-old ministry next week. Speaking on the sidelines of a campaign rally for Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council polls, he said, "On the 9th of this month, you will see new ministers in the ministry."
Speaking on the sidelines of a campaign rally for Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council election, Sarma said, "There will be a minor expansion of the ministry. On the 9th of this month, you will see new ministers in the ministry."
Sarma did not clarify if the first expansion of the council of ministers would be to fill up all four available vacant berths completely or partially. He also did not give any details of who will enter the ministry but hinted that "one MLA from the hill districts (Karbi Anglong or Dima Hasao districts) will take oath as a minister on June 9 this month."
Earlier, the CM said there could be either an expansion or reshuffle of the ministry in November this year.
On May 10 last year, Sarma and 13 ministers of the BJP-led alliance were sworn, leaving four more berths vacant. The council of ministers at present has 11 members from BJP, two from ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and one from other ally UPPL.
Article 164(1A) makes it compulsory that the total number of ministers in a state cannot not exceed 15% of the total number of members of its legislative assembly. Assam, which has 126 members in the assembly, can have maximum 18 ministers, including the chief minister, as per this law.
