West Bengal Cabinet Expansion: 35 BJP MLAs sworn in as Ministers
The West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, carried out a major cabinet expansion on Monday, inducting 35 BJP MLAs into the Council of Ministers at Nabanna in Kolkata. The expansion comes just weeks after the BJP formed its first-ever government in the state on May 9.
Governor R N Ravi administered the oath of office to the new ministers, marking a significant step in the formation of a full-fledged state cabinet. With the latest induction, the total strength of the West Bengal Council of Ministers has increased from 6 to 41, moving close to the constitutional ceiling of 44 ministers permitted under the 91st Constitutional Amendment.
The expanded cabinet includes a mix of Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and Ministers of State with Independent Charge. Prominent names among those sworn in include Arjun Singh, Tapas Roy, Shankar Ghosh, Jagannath Chattopadhyay, Swapan Dasgupta, Dipak Burman, and Manoj Oraon, among others. Several first-time ministers and grassroots leaders were also inducted as part of the broader restructuring.
According to party leaders, the expansion aims to ensure wider social and regional representation in the government. The new cabinet includes representation from North Bengal, tribal communities, women, and other social groups, reflecting the BJP’s effort to consolidate its political base across the state after its electoral victory.
Senior leaders such as Arjun Singh expressed readiness to take on new responsibilities, stating that the focus remains on fulfilling the expectations of the government, party, and the people. The ceremony was attended by top BJP leaders and state officials, marking one of the largest cabinet expansions in the state’s political history.
The expansion is also seen as a strategic move by the ruling BJP to strengthen administrative reach and improve governance delivery across West Bengal.
