West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has allotted key portfolios to five ministers who took office in the new cabinet on Saturday. Agnimitra Paul became the Minister for Women and Child Welfare in the West Bengal government, while Dilip Ghosh was given the charge of the Ministry of Rural Development, Panchayats and Animal Resources. Here is a list of all five ministers:
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1) Dilip Ghosh: Development, panchayats and animal resources
He is one of the prominent faces of the BJP during its organizational expansion in West Bengal. He served as Member of Parliament from Medinipur and is a former BJP state president.
West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh (PTI)
Ashok Kirtania is a BJP MLA from Bangaon Uttar in North 24 Parganas. In the 2026 parliamentary elections, he won from this constituency by defeating TMC’s Biswajit Das by a decisive margin of 40,670 votes.
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In the West Bengal government, Suvendu Adhikari has assigned portfolios to five new ministers. Dilip Ghosh is in charge of rural development, panchayats and animal resources; Ashok Kirtania heads the food department; Khudiram Tudu is in charge of looking after the backward class; Agnimitra Paul is Minister for Women and Child Welfare; and Nisith Pramanik is responsible for North Bengal Development, Sports and Youth Welfare.
In the first cabinet meeting, Suvendu Adhikari announced the introduction of central schemes like Ayushman Bharat, PM Jan Arogya Yojana, PM Kisan Insurance, PM SHRI, Vishwakarma Scheme, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Ujjwala Yojana. Other decisions included implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, extension of the government’s working age limits by five years and strengthening of border security measures with allotment of land for BSF fencing.
Yes, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has said that the ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ programme, a flagship program of the previous government, will continue. He assured that all ongoing beneficiary programs in Bengal would not be stopped.
The Suvendu Adhikari government faces significant challenges, including managing a large fiscal liability for contribution arrears, dismantling entrenched local extortion networks (syndicates), maintaining communal harmony amid polarizing policies, securing the border with Bangladesh to curb illegal immigration, and reviving industrial growth to address low per capita income.
The new West Bengal government has approved the transfer of land to the Border Security Force (BSF) for fencing the Bangladesh border. The move aims to complete long-delayed projects and create a more secure border that addresses concerns about illegal immigration and smuggling.
Kirtania belongs to the influential Matua community, which was a key support base for the party in the recent elections.
Ashok Kirtania during the swearing-in ceremony for the new BJP government in West Bengal (Hindustan Times)
3) Khudiram Tudu: Backward Class Welfare
Khudiram Tudu is a tribal leader from the Ranibandh banking constituency in the Jungle Mahal region. Tudu won the Ranibandh (ST) seat in the 2026 election, defeating TMC candidate Tanushree Hansda by a margin of 52,269 votes.
Khudiram Tudu during the swearing-in ceremony for the new BJP government in West Bengal (Hindustan Times)
4) Agnimitra Paul: Women and Child Care
Agnimitra Paul is a fashion designer-turned-politician who previously headed the BJP Mahila Morcha in West Bengal. She was recently appointed vice-chairman of the state department of the party.
She is currently the only female minister in the state cabinet. In the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections, she retained the Asansol Dakshin Assembly constituency seat with a decisive margin of 40,839 votes against Trinamool Congress candidate Tapas Banerjee.
Agnimitra Paul during his swearing in at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata (Hindustan Times)
5) Nisith Pramanik: North Bengal Development, Sports and Youth Welfare
Nisith Pramanik, who was earlier associated with the Trinamool Congress, joined the BJP in 2019. He served as the Union Minister of State in Prime Minister Modi’s government, becoming one of the youngest ministers at that time. In the 2026 elections, Pramanik won the Mathabhanga (SC) seat by a margin of 57,090 votes, defeating his nearest rival, TMC’s Sabla Barman.
Nisith Pramanik will be sworn in as West Bengal Cabinet Minister during the swearing in ceremony (PTI)
The division of portfolios took place shortly after the formation of the new government in West Bengal, with the chief minister quickly establishing an administrative structure and allocating responsibilities across key departments.
Appointment of Manoj Agarwal
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal has been appointed as the Chief Secretary of the Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP government in the state, according to an official order issued on Monday.
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who is that According to news agency PTI, Agarwal is a 1990 batch IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre.
He directed the SIR exercise ordered by the Election Commission in the state ahead of the assembly elections that saw about 91 lakh voters removed from the electoral rolls.
Acting Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala has been appointed as Chief Resident Commissioner, New Delhi, the order said.
The BJP came to power for the first time in the state after handing a stunning defeat to the Trinamool Congress. The saffron party secured 207 seats in the 294-member assembly, reducing the TMC to 80 seats.
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Key announcements at the first cabinet meeting
In his first cabinet meeting, Suvendu Adhikari announced the introduction of major central schemes including Ayushman Bharat and other social schemes like PM Jan Arogya Yojana, PM Kisan related insurance, PM SHRI, Vishwakarma Scheme, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Ujjwala Yojana.
He also announced reforms in governance and administration, including rapprochement with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), raising the age limit for government jobs by five years, participation of IAS officers in central training programs and stricter implementation of census guidelines.
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Adhikari further emphasized on border security arrangements and faster allotment of land to the Border Security Force (BSF).
The Chief Minister assured that all welfare programs will continue but with stricter verification to prevent misuse.
The cabinet also expressed gratitude to the electorate for the peaceful elections and reiterated its commitment to development, security and implementation of central policies across the state.
