In West Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership has finalized the list of ministers for the first expansion of the council of ministers since the party formed its first government in the state on May 9. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Sunday that 35 ministers will take oath at Lok Bhavan on Monday, with Governor R. N. Ravi administering the oaths.
Key Factors in Minister Selection
The selection process was influenced by the need to strike a balance among Bengal's various regions and between BJP veterans and new entrants who joined the party after 2019. Party sources indicated that the composition of the council of ministers will reflect an internal equilibrium between the old guard and newcomers. Additionally, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological anchor of the BJP, played a significant role in screening the list.
Current Cabinet and Constitutional Limits
The current government, led by Chief Minister Adhikari, has been functioning with six ministers since taking office. According to the Constitution, the strength of a state's council of ministers cannot exceed 15% of the assembly's strength. With West Bengal's assembly having 294 members, the state can have a maximum of 44 ministers, including the Chief Minister.
Regional and Community Representation
Regional and community representation has been a key factor in the selection of new ministers. At least seven MLAs from north Bengal and two from the Rarh Bangla region (western districts) are expected to receive berths. The Matua and Rajbanshi communities are likely to have two representatives each in the expanded council. The current cabinet already includes a Matua representative, Ashok Kirtania, and a Scheduled Tribe member, Kshudiram Tudu.
An MLA from the Jangalmahal region is being considered for a key portfolio, and one from West Midnapore is in the running for a cabinet berth. Three leaders from Kolkata are also expected to be included in the list.
Potential Ministerial Candidates
Among the names being considered for ministerial positions are Tapas Roy, Shankar Ghosh, Indranil Khan, Sharadwat Mukherjee, Subrata Thakur, Jagannath Chattopadhyay, Malati Rava, Dipak Barman, Roopa Ganguly, Partha Ghosh, Dudhkumar Mandal, Utpal Maharaj, Joel Murmu, Gouri Shankar Roy, Ratna Debnath, Ajit Jana, and Shruti Sekhar Goswami.
Portfolio Allocations
While no official statement has been made, Chief Minister Adhikari is expected to retain the critical portfolios of home (police) and finance for now. The induction of senior functionaries such as Swapan Dasgupta is aimed at ensuring synergy between the government's priorities and those of the RSS.
