Assam Cabinet expanded, 12 MLAs sworn in

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

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

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

“It is a balanced team, which represents the aspirations of all sections of 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 took the oath as the 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 inducted Ministers are experienced. They are Ashok Singhal, Bimal Borah, Jayanta Mallabaruah, Kaushik Rai, Krishnendu Paul, Pijush Hazarika and Ranoj Pegu of the BJP, and Keshab Mahanta of the AGP.

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

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

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