Congress-led coalition ministry takes oath in Asom

Guwahati, May 19 : The first ever Congress-led coalition ministry in Asom took oath of office at the Indian Tea Association Auditorium here this noon.

All 18 ministers barring Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi were administered oath of office in presence of a distinguished gathering. The Chief Minister took oath earlier on May 14 last.

Out of these 18 ministers 17 were given cabinet berth, while there is only one minister of state with Independent charge.

There are only two women in the ministry that has representatives of different communities in the state. The portfolios of the ministers will be announced in a later date.

Three MLAs from the Bodoland People's Progressive Front(Hagrama), the ally of Congress, were accommodated in the ministry. Of them senior legislator Mrs Promila Rani Brahma and senior BPPF(H) leader and former Bodo militant, Chandan Brahma were allotted cabinet berth while Rihon Daimary was made minister of state.

Except two ministers from the BPPF(H), no first-tme MLA from Congress was accommodated in the ministry. All the senior leaders of the BPPF(H) which has its first brush with power in Assam capital, led by the former commander-in-chief of the now disbanded Bodo Liberation Tiger(BLT) were present in the oath-taking ceremony.

The Ministry is: Tarun Gogoi(Chief minister), Cabinet ministers: Dr Bhumidhar Barman, Prithbi Majhi, Bharat Chandra Narah, Mrs Promila Rani Brahma, Gautom Roy, Dinesh Prasad Goala, Chandan Brahma, Kharsing Ingti, Nurjamal Sarkar, Dr Nazrul Islam, Gautom Bora, Ripun Bora, Pradyut Bardoloi, Pranab Gogoi, Himanta Bishwa Sharma, Rockybul Hussain, Mrs Ajanta Neog.

The only minister of state with independent charge is Rihon Daimari.

UNI