West Bengal Cabinet Expansion: 35 BJP MLAs Inducted

West Bengal witnessed a major political development on June 1 as Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expanded his BJP-led ministry.

A total of 35 BJP legislators took oath as ministers at Lok Bhavan in Kolkata. The expansion comes less than a month after the BJP formed its first government in the state following its Assembly election victory.

Quick Glance

35 BJP MLAs inducted into the West Bengal government.
13 legislators sworn in as Cabinet Ministers.
Three MLAs became Ministers of State with Independent Charge.
Cabinet strength rises to 19, including Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

Agartala/Kolkata: The BJP government in West Bengal significantly expanded its ministerial team on Monday. The swearing-in ceremony took place at Lok Bhavan in Kolkata. Governor R.N. Ravi administered the oath to the newly inducted ministers.

The cabinet expansion marks another important step for the BJP government, which assumed power in the state after securing victory in the Assembly elections. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari took charge on May 9 and initially formed a compact cabinet.

Political observers view the latest expansion as an effort to strengthen governance and ensure wider regional representation within the administration.

13 MLAs Elevated to Cabinet Rank

As part of the reshuffle, 13 BJP legislators joined the cabinet as full-fledged ministers. Their inclusion has increased the size of the core decision-making body within the government.

The newly appointed Cabinet Ministers are:

Deepak Barman
Tapas Roy
Dr. Shankar Ghosh
Manoj Kumar Oraon
Arjun Singh
Gouri Shankar Ghosh
Swapan Dasgupta
Jagannath Chattopadhyay
Kalyan Chakraborty
Ajay Poddar
Dr. Saradwat Mukherjee
Dudh Kumar Mondal
Anup Kumar Das

However, the state government has not yet announced their departmental responsibilities. Sources indicated that portfolio allocation would be finalized later in the day.

Cabinet Strength Increases to 19

With the induction of 13 new cabinet ministers, the total strength of the cabinet now stands at 19, including Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

The Chief Minister had earlier formed a six-member cabinet on May 9. The ministers who joined him at that time included Agnimitra Paul, Dilip Ghosh, Nisith Pramanik, Ashok Kirtaniya and Khudiram Tudu.

BJP ministers sworn-in during West Bengal cabinet expansion ceremony at Lok Bhavan in Kolkata

The expansion is expected to improve administrative efficiency and distribute governance responsibilities across a broader team.

Ministers of State Also Inducted

Besides cabinet ministers, the government appointed three legislators as Ministers of State with Independent Charge.

They are:

Indranil Khan
Malati Rava Roy
Rajesh Mamahato

Additionally, 19 BJP legislators took oath as Ministers of State.

The newly appointed Ministers of State include Joel Murmu, Hare Krishna Bera, Anandamay Barman, Ashok Dinda, Nadiar Chand Bauri, Vishal Lama, Shantanu Pramanik, Moumita Biswas Mishra, Umesh Ray, Purnima Chakravarty, Kaushik Chowdhury, Bhaskar Bhattacharya, Dibakar Gharami, Amiya Kisku, Kalita Majhi, Gargi Das Ghosh, Biraj Biswas, Dipankar Jana and Sumana Sarkar.

Oath Ceremony Held at Lok Bhavan

The ceremony began at 11 a.m. at Lok Bhavan in Kolkata. Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal conducted the proceedings by announcing the names of the ministers before the oath-taking process.

The event followed a structured sequence. First, the Cabinet Ministers took oath. Next came the Ministers of State with Independent Charge. Finally, the Ministers of State were sworn in.

The programme attracted significant political attention as it represented the first major expansion of the BJP government in West Bengal.

Portfolio Allocation Likely at Nabanna Meeting

Following the ceremony, the newly inducted ministers were scheduled to proceed to Nabanna, the state secretariat.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari convened a cabinet meeting for the afternoon. During the meeting, he is expected to distribute portfolios among the ministers.

The allocation of departments will determine the administrative responsibilities of the new members and shape the government’s functioning in the coming months.

Political Significance of the Expansion

The cabinet expansion highlights the BJP government’s efforts to consolidate its position in West Bengal. By inducting leaders from different regions and social backgrounds, the party appears focused on broadening representation within the administration.

The enlarged ministry may also help the government address governance challenges more effectively. Analysts believe the distribution of key portfolios will provide insights into the government’s priorities and policy direction.

As the BJP begins its first full term in West Bengal, the performance of the newly inducted ministers will remain under close scrutiny from both political observers and the public.