Guwahati: The newly sworn-in cabinet in Assam has 14 millionaires this time. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took the oath of office and secrecy on May 10 and inducted 13 ministers in his cabinet.
The Chief Minister had accommodated the ministers from alliance partners including the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United Peoples Party Liberal (UPPL), a party having a presence mostly in the state's Bodoland areas.
While Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tops the list with a total valuation of Rs. 17.27 crore, the other 12 out of the 13 inducted in the cabinet are also crorepatis, this means 86 percent of the cabinet ministers as high net worth individuals.
Two-time BJP legislator from Dhekiajuli, Ashok Singhal who was inducted into the cabinet seconds the list with a total wealth estimation Rs. 17.06 crore. Singhal who became a BJP legislator in 2016 for the first time served as chairman of the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA).
Next in the list is cabinet minister Piyush Hazarika. Known as a close aide of Chief Minister Sarma, Hazarika's valuation stands at Rs. 6.03 Cr while president of the BJP's Assam unit Ranjit Kumar Dass has a valuation of Rs. 5.87 Cr. A former BJP legislator from Sarbhog constituency, Dass is representing the Patacharkuchi constituency this time in the House.
Read:ULFA (I) declares ceasefire days within Sarma's appeal, cites Covid situation
The six-time legislator from Dharmapur constituency, Chandra Mohan Patowari also finds place in the list. Patowari owns property worth Rs. 3.69 Cr. On the other hand, AGP president and minister Atul Bora joins the bandwagon with a valuation standing at Rs. 3.68 Cr. AGP legislator Keshab Mahanta is next on the list. Mahanta's wealth estimation stands at Rs. 3.45 Cr.