Tarun Gogoi to visit Delhi to finalise list of ministers

Guwahati, May 19: Tarun Gogoi, who took oath as Chief Minister of Assam for the third consecutive term on Wednesday, May 18 said he will go to New Delhi to finalise the list of ministers.

"Altogether there will be 18 ministers and so all factors have to be considered before deciding on the list of ministry," he told reporters after his swearing-in in the Raj Bhavan.

Bodo Peoples Front, the alliance partner of Congress, will be included in the government, he said.

The chief minister said the lone Trinamool Congress MLA has been asked by party chief and West Bengal chief minister designate Mamata Banerjee to support the Congress. Another independent MLA has talked to me and supported the Congress.

"This shows the overwhelming support for our party and the government's policies in the last 10 years," he said.

Asked on his top priorities, Gogoi said peace and development will be on top of his agenda.

"The peace process initiated with the ULFA and other insurgent groups will be carried forward to ensure that the insurgency problem is solved permanently," he said.

"As Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had said people voted for continuity and we will ensure that the developmental process initiated by the government in the last two terms benefits the people," he added.

Voters wanted the continuation of the developmental process and therefore voted for Congress. "They very well knew that if any other party comes to power the developmental process will be adversely affected," he said.

PTI