BJP MLA Daimary sworn in as minister: Prior to the Assam cabinet expansion exercise, sources close to Daimary had told The Federal that he may quit the saffron party and join a Bodo-linked party, if he was not inducted into the cabinet on June 5. Photo: X|@himantabiswa
Assam cabinet expansion: Sarma defuses potential revolt by inducting Biswajit Daimary
To keep the party intact, CM brings controversial former Speaker into a 17-member cabinet despite pressure over financial irregularity allegations
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma successfully prevented any dramatic party fallout during his cabinet expansion by strategically incorporating 'controversial' BJP MLA Biswajit Daimary into his new ministry.
Besides Daimary, BJP MLAs Ranoj Pegu and Ashok Singhal, and AGP's Keshab Mahanta were among the 12 legislators who took oath as ministers on Friday (June 5) as the total strength of Himanta's council of ministers rose to 17.
Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office and secrecy to the MLAs at a function at the Jyoti-Bishnu Antarjatik Kala Mandir in Guwahati.
Prior to the cabinet expansion exercise, sources close to Daimary had told The Federal that the BJP MLA may quit the saffron party and join a Bodo-linked party, if he was not inducted into the cabinet on June 5.
Though, a prominent face in Bodo politics, Daimary also happens to be at the centre of a controversy following allegations of financial and administrative irregularities during his tenure as Speaker. A public watchdog, Assam Public Works (APW) too has sought a high-level inquiry into the allegations.
However, his supporters backed him, saying that Daimary stood for the Bodo language and the Bodo community in the Assembly over the last five years.
Daimary began his Assembly career with the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) in 2001 and later represented Assam in the Rajya Sabha in 2008, 2014 and 2020. He joined the BJP in November 2020 and was elected Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly after the 2021 Assembly elections.
His name has figured prominently in discussions surrounding the cabinet expansion, after he won the Tamulpur Assembly seat by defeating UPPL president Pramod Boro in the recently concluded Assembly elections.
New faces in cabinet
Among the new faces in the cabinet are BJP's Ashwini Ray Sarkar, Nandini Devi and Sushanta Borgohain.
AGP's Mahanta, who was in Sarma's previous cabinet, has been included in the council of ministers.
Also read: Himanta Biswa Sarma set for second term as Assam chief minister
BJP MLAs Bimal Borah, Jayant Mallabaruah, Kaushik Rai, Krishnendu Paul and Pijush Hazarika, who took the oath, had also served as ministers in the previous Himanta Sarma government.
The strength of the Assam cabinet will now be 17, including the chief minister, with four other ministers sworn in on May 12.
The ministers sworn in earlier are AGP's Atul Bora, BPF's Charan Boro and BJP's Ajanta Neog and Rameshwar Teli.
NDA storms back to power
The NDA won a record 102 seats in the 126-member assembly, including 82 from the BJP.
The BJP allies, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bodoland People's Front (BPF), bagged 10 seats each.
(With agency inputs)