Guwahati, June 5 -- By NE NOW NEWS

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday expanded his Council of Ministers with the induction of 12 legislators, including four first-time ministers, nearly a month after the NDA returned to power with a sweeping mandate in the Assembly elections.

Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at a ceremony held at the Jyoti-Bishnu Antarjatik Kala Mandir in Guwahati.

With the latest expansion, the strength of the Assam Council of Ministers rose to 17, including the Chief Minister. Under constitutional provisions, the maximum permissible strength of the ministry in the 126-member Assembly is 19.

The new entrants includes BJP legisl...