Portfolio allocation announced for five Bengal ministers sworn in with CM Suvendu Adhikari
Kolkata, May 11
The new Bharatiya Janata Party government in West Bengal, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, on Monday announced the portfolio distribution for the five other Cabinet ministers who took oath along with him on May 9, 2026.
BJP's former national vice-president and ex-West Bengal unit chief Dilip Ghosh has been allotted the portfolios of Panchayat Affairs & Rural Development and Animal Husbandry.
Ghosh was elected this time from the Kharagpur (Sadar) Assembly constituency in West Midnapore district, where he had earlier served as an MLA from 2016 to 2019. He later became the Lok Sabha member from Medinipur constituency in the same district from 2019 to 2024.
Fashion designer-turned-politician Agnimitra Paul, who is also a two-time BJP legislator from the Asansol (Dakshin) Assembly constituency in West Burdwan district, has been allotted the portfolios of Women & Child Development, Social Welfare and Municipal Affairs.
Former BJP Lok Sabha member from Cooch Behar constituency in north Bengal and former Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nisith Pramanik has been allotted the portfolio of North Bengal Development.
Pramanik was elected this time from the Mathabhanga Assembly constituency in Cooch Behar district.
Ashok Kirtaniya has been allotted the portfolio of Food & Supplies. Kirtaniya, a prominent leader from the Matua community in West Bengal, is a two-time BJP legislator from the Bangaon (Uttar) Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district.
Finally, Khudiram Tudu, a representative from the Santal tribal community in the new state Cabinet, has been allotted the portfolio of Backward Class Welfare & Development.
He is a first-time legislator from the tribal-dominated Ranibandh Assembly constituency in Bankura district.
The next meeting of the new state Cabinet will be held on May 18.
By then, the names of other members of the new state Cabinet are expected to be announced and the portfolio distribution process completed.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see Agnimitra Paul getting Women & Child Development - she has a fashion background but that might bring fresh perspective to social welfare schemes. Hope she focuses on real issues like malnutrition and women's safety in Bengal.
North Bengal Development portfolio to Nisith Pramanik makes sense - he knows the region well being from Cooch Behar. But the real test will be whether he can address the infrastructure gap and develop the Dooars and Terai regions. Let's see. 😊
Ashok Kirtaniya from the Matua community getting Food & Supplies - strategic move by BJP to consolidate that vote bank. But the Matua community has been demanding citizenship rights for decades, so this portfolio alone won't satisfy them. Need concrete action.
Khudiram Tudu getting Backward Class Welfare - good representation for the Santal tribal community. But without proper budget allocation and implementation, portfolios are just titles. Let's hope this government walks the talk on tribal development in Bengal.
Overall, a mixed bag of portfolios. The real test will be the next cabinet expansion on May 18 - if they induct capable technocrats rather than just party loyalists, Bengal might actually see good governance. Cautiously optimistic. 🤞
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