Suvendu cabinet expansion marks a tectonic shift :: Rise of North Bengal - a long neglected region :::: And South Kolkata is not the 'nerve centre' of power in the state

 

Almost after a month since Suvendu Adhikari Govt took charge in West Bengal,  a total of 35 BJP MLAs were sworn in at Kolkata’s Lok Bhawan.

They include 13 cabinet ministers, three ministers of state with independent charge and 19 ministers of state.  

The Suvendu ministry now has seven women ministers.  

The seven women ministers have been assigned key and different ministerial roles ranging from rural development to women and child welfare.  

Governor R N Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers.  

Agnimitra Paul – Women & Child Welfare Portfolio was sworn-in as a minister last month along with the Chief Minister in presence of P Narendra Modi and a galaxy of ministers.

 

Ms Agnimitra Paul, a two-time MLA from Asansol Dakshin, continues to be one of the BJP’s most prominent women leaders in West Bengal. 

She retained her seat in the 2026 elections by defeating TMC’s Tapas Banerjee by over 40,000 votes. 

Before entering politics, she built a successful career in fashion design. She has showcased collections at major platforms, including Lakme Fashion Week, highlighting Bengal’s traditional crafts like Kantha embroidery.  

Purnima Chakraborty – Minister of State (MoS)

Purnima Chakraborty secured a major political win from the Shyampukur Assembly constituency in Kolkata, defeating senior TMC leader Shashi Panja by 14,633 votes. 

Her victory marked one of the notable urban gains for the BJP in the elections. 

She is known for her focus on local civic issues in North Kolkata. She defeated an established minister, which brought her into the political spotlight.  

Rise of north Bengal

Adhikari will have 10 colleagues from north Bengal districts with four cabinet-rank ministers and six ministers of state.

Nisith Pramanik, BJP MLA from Mathabhanga, had taken oath along with Adhikari on May 9 as a cabinet minister. Siliguri’s Shankar Ghosh, Dipak Burman from Falakata and Manoj Oraon from Kumargram were sworn-in on Monday as cabinet ministers.

Six others from different districts in the region took oath as ministers of state.

The north Bengal region has long complained of neglect over decades under both the Left Front and the Trinamool Congress. In recent elections, the region has turned into a stronghold of the BJP.

With this many ministers from the region, the Suvendu Adhikari government has indicated its priority for the region and also fixed accountability.

However, the Darjeeling hills, Jalpaiguri and South Dinajpur did not get any face in the ministry.