Heartburn in Asom over portfolios

Guwahati, May 21: The portfolio distribution by Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi among his 18 ministers late last night has caused a lot of heartburn, especially among the tribal leaders.

The Bodos are dissatisfied as they did not get the cash rich PWD department, while some important ministers of the last government like Himanta Biswa Sharma got 'lesser' portfolios.

The Bodos lobbied hard for the PWD department but it was not given to them.

The high command ensured that ministers, who became 'larger than life,' were entrusted with specific purposes.

Already there are major ripples in the N C Hills as their lone representative G C Langthasa was left out of the ministry.

Undaunted by any probable revolt, the Chief Minister told newspersons today that he had entrusted the responsibility to each of the ministers with ''a special purpose in mind.'' The Chief Minister has kept the Home, Finance, PWD and some other portfolios with himself. The ministries were repositioned in a manner so that nobody can emerge as a single winner.

The portfolios of the ministers were as follows:- Prithibi Majhi - Planning and Development, Labour&Employment and Welfare of Tea Tribe.

Dr Bhumidhar Burman- Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Assam Accord and Administrative Reforms and Training.

Bharat Narah - Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs.

Gautam Roy - Excise and Border Area Development.

Pranab Gogoi - Handloom and Textile, Sericulture and Law.

Gautam Bora - Co-operative and Cultural Affairs.

Ripun Bora - Education.

Pradyut Bordoloi - Power, Industry&Commerce.

Himanta Biswa Sarma - Health, Guwahati Development Department and Information Technology.

Rockybul Hussain - Forest, Tourism, Printing and Stationery.

Information and Public Relations Department.

Ajanta Neog - Social Welfare and Jail.

Dr Khorsing Ingti - Hills Area Development, Mines&Minerals and Animal Husbandry&Veterinary.

Nurzamal Sarkar - Soil Conservation, Fishery and Irrigation.

Dr Nazrul Islam - Food and Civil Supply, Minority Welfare and Haj Affairs.

Dinesh Prasad Gowala - Urban Development and Housing.

Chandan Brahma - Transport and Panchayat and Rural Development.

Pramila Rani Brahma - Agriculture and WPT&BC.

Rihon Daimary - PHE (Minister of State - Independent).

UNI