- India,
- 01-Jun-2026 03:10 PM IST
The West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, has undergone a significant cabinet expansion today, marking a historic moment for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state. Approximately three weeks after forming the first-ever BJP government in West Bengal, the Chief Minister inducted 35 new ministers into his council. The swearing-in ceremony took place at Nabanna, where the new members took their oaths of office, bringing the total number of ministers in the state to 41. In the 294 member West Bengal Assembly, the maximum permissible number of ministers is 44, which means the Suvendu government still has 3 vacant ministerial positions for future adjustments.
Breakdown of the New Cabinet Structure
The expansion includes a diverse mix of experienced leaders and fresh faces. Out of the 35 new inductees, 13 have been appointed as Cabinet Ministers, 3 as Ministers of State with Independent Charge, and 19 as Ministers of State. The 13 leaders who took oath as Cabinet Ministers are Tapas Roy, Deepak Barman, Shankar Ghosh, Arjun Singh, Manoj Oraon, Gauri Shankar Ghosh, Jagannath Chattopadhyay, Swapan Dasgupta, Kalyan Chakraborty, Anup Kumar Das, Ajay Kumar Poddar, Sharadvat Mukhopadhyay, and Dudh Kumar Mondal. Also, Malti Rabha Roy, Indranil Khan, and Rajesh Mehta were sworn in as Ministers of State with Independent Charge.
Inspiring Profiles: From Domestic Work to Governance
One of the most remarkable inclusions in the cabinet is Kalita Majhi, whose journey from working as a domestic help to becoming a minister has captured public attention. Representing the Ausgram constituency in East Burdwan, Kalita Majhi used to work in households to support her family, earning a meager monthly income of 2500 rupees. Her husband works as a plumber, while despite her humble background and financial struggles, she won her seat with a margin of 12535 votes. Her induction is seen as a strong message of empowerment and representation for the working class.
Youth and Professional Diversity in the Council
The cabinet also features Biraj Biswas, a 30 year old legislator from Karandighi in North Dinajpur, who is one of the youngest members of the assembly. A lawyer by profession at the Calcutta High Court, Biswas rose through the ranks of student politics, having served as the State Secretary and All India Secretary of the ABVP. He defeated veteran leader Gautam Pal to secure his seat, while Also, former Indian cricket team fast bowler Ashok Dinda, who won from the Moyna seat for the second consecutive time, has been appointed as a Minister of State. The cabinet also includes journalist-turned-politicians Swapan Dasgupta and Jagannath Chattopadhyay, highlighting the professional diversity within the team.
Regional and Gender Representation
The expansion has Notably strengthened the representation of North Bengal, while several MLAs from this region, including Shankar Ghosh, Vishal Lama, Juel Murmu, Anandamay Barman, Deepak Barman, and Malti Rabha Roy, have been given ministerial berths. Notably, the Assembly Speaker Rathindra Ghosh also hails from this region. The government has also focused on gender inclusivity, with several women MLAs taking oath today, including Kalita Majhi, Moumita Biswas Mishra, Sumana Sarkar, Gargi Ghosh Das, and Purnima Chakraborty. They join Agnimitra Paul, who was already a cabinet minister. The initial cabinet formed on May 9 included 5 ministers such as Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania, Nisith Pramanik, and Kshudiram Tudu, representing various communities like Matua, Rajbanshi, and Tribal societies.
List of Ministers of State
The 19 Ministers of State who took the oath include Ashok Dinda, Joel Murmu, Anandamay Barman, Kaushik Chowdhury, Gargi Das Ghosh, Bhaskar Bhattacharya, Diwakar Gharami, Sumana Sarkar, Shantanu Pramanik, Purnima Chakraborty, and Umesh Rai, among others. This expansion reflects the BJP's strategy to balance regional aspirations and social demographics as it begins its governance in West Bengal.
