The newly formed West Bengal cabinet was sworn in on Saturday, with Suvendu Adhikari taking the oath as Chief Minister. The ceremony, held at Raj Bhavan in Kolkata, saw Governor C.V. Ananda Bose administering the oath of office and secrecy to the council of ministers.
Key Ministers in the Cabinet
The cabinet includes several prominent leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies. Among those who took oath are:
- Dilip Ghosh – Former state BJP president, known for his strong organizational skills.
- Agnimitra Paul – Fashion designer-turned-politician, representing the Bardhaman-Durgapur constituency.
- Shankar Ghosh – Veteran leader from the Asansol region.
- Rabin Deb – Former Congress leader who joined the BJP ahead of the elections.
- Rathin Chakraborty – Senior leader from the Matua community.
- Prasanta Pal – Representative from the tribal belt.
- Swapan Majumdar – Former MLA from the Nadia district.
Portfolio Allocation
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari retained key portfolios including Home, Finance, and Power. Dilip Ghosh has been assigned the Public Works Department (PWD) and Rural Development. Agnimitra Paul gets the Higher Education and Women & Child Development departments.
The cabinet formation comes after the BJP-led alliance secured a majority in the recently concluded West Bengal assembly elections. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by top party leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J.P. Nadda.
Political Significance
This marks a historic shift in West Bengal's politics, as the BJP forms its first government in the state. The cabinet is a mix of experienced leaders and fresh faces, reflecting the party's strategy to consolidate diverse communities and regions.
Opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, have criticized the new government, alleging that the cabinet lacks representation from minority communities. However, BJP leaders have defended the selections, stating they are based on merit and regional balance.
The new government is expected to focus on development, law and order, and implementing central schemes in the state.
