Cabinet Expansion in West Bengal sees 35 BJP legislators sworn in as ministers under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The Cabinet Expansion gives significant representation to North Bengal and Jangalmahal while reinforcing the government’s development agenda.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expands his Cabinet with representation from North Bengal and Jangalmahal; new ministers pledge commitment to governance and development.
Qalam Times News Network
Kolkata | June 1, 2026
Cabinet Expansion in West Bengal took center stage on Monday as the state’s first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government completed a major reshuffle and enlargement of its Council of Ministers. At a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan in Kolkata, Governor R.N. Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy to 35 newly inducted ministers in the presence of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
The swearing-in ceremony began with the National Anthem and Vande Mataram, followed by the formal announcement of ministerial appointments by Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal. The latest expansion includes 13 Cabinet Ministers, three Ministers of State with Independent Charge, and 19 Ministers of State. Political observers noted that the exercise reflects the government’s effort to strengthen regional representation and broaden administrative outreach across the state.
Cabinet Expansion Gives Greater Representation to Regions
A key feature of the Cabinet Expansion was the increased focus on North Bengal and Jangalmahal. Of the newly appointed ministers, ten legislators hail from North Bengal, while six represent the Jangalmahal region. The move is being viewed as an attempt to ensure balanced representation and address regional development priorities within the state’s governance framework.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya described the day as “a new beginning of hope” for the people of the state. He reiterated the government’s commitment to implementing its election promises, including the rollout of the Annapurna Yojana and free bus travel services for women.
Bhattacharya stated that the administration has already mobilized officials and grassroots workers to ensure that government welfare initiatives reach eligible beneficiaries. He emphasized that the government would work in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of inclusive development and equitable growth.
New Cabinet Ministers
The following leaders took oath as Cabinet Ministers:
- Tapas Roy
- Deepak Barman
- Manoj Oraon
- Shankar Ghosh
- Gouri Shankar Ghosh
- Arjun Singh
- Swapan Dasgupta
- Jagannath Chattopadhyay
- Kalyan Chakraborty
- Sharadwat Mukherjee
- Ajay Kumar Poddar
- Arup Kumar Das
- Dudh Kumar Mondal
Ministers of State (Independent Charge)
The following legislators assumed office as Ministers of State with Independent Charge:
- Malati Rava Roy
- Indranil Khan
- Rajesh Mahata
Ministers of State
Nineteen BJP legislators were inducted as Ministers of State:
- 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
- Sumana Sarkar
Earlier Cabinet Members Continue Key Responsibilities
Prior to the latest expansion, several senior leaders had already assumed important responsibilities within the government. Dilip Ghosh was entrusted with the Panchayat and Rural Development, Animal Resources Development, and Agricultural Marketing departments. Agnimitra Paul took charge of Women and Child Development as well as Urban Development. Nishith Pramanik was assigned the North Bengal Development and Sports portfolios, while Ashok Kirtaniya became Minister for Food and Supplies. Khudiram Tudu was given responsibility for Backward Classes Welfare and Minority Affairs.
Government Focuses on Delivery and Development
The expanded ministry is expected to play a crucial role in implementing the BJP government’s policy agenda across West Bengal. The leadership has repeatedly emphasized welfare delivery, infrastructure development, women’s empowerment, and regional growth as key priorities.
With a larger team now in place, the government aims to accelerate decision-making, strengthen administrative coordination, and ensure effective execution of development programmes at the grassroots level.
Monday’s Cabinet expansion marks one of the most significant administrative developments since the formation of the BJP government in West Bengal, setting the stage for the next phase of governance under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
