Suvendu Adhikari, who was sworn in on Saturday as the first chief minister of the BJP in West Bengal, has announced a five-member cabinet. The newly inducted ministers include Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Nisith Pramanik, Kshudiram Tudu and Ashok Kirtania.
The oath-taking ceremony was held in the presence of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, along with several other senior dignitaries, reports NDTV.
Profile of the ministers:
Dilip Ghosh
Veteran BJP leader Dilip Ghosh, a former state party president, began his political journey as a full-time Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker. He played a key role in strengthening the BJP’s grassroots presence in West Bengal after 2014. Ghosh previously served as the Member of Parliament from the Medinipur Lok Sabha constituency.
Agnimitra Paul
Agnimitra Paul, a fashion designer turned politician, is currently the only woman minister in the BJP-led cabinet in West Bengal. She joined the BJP in 2019 and was later appointed president of the Mahila Morcha in the state, succeeding Locket Chatterjee.
In 2021, she became the BJP’s state general secretary. She won the Asansol Dakshin Assembly seat in the 2021 elections, defeating Trinamool Congress candidate Saayoni Ghosh.
She later contested the Asansol Lok Sabha by-election in 2022 but lost to actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha. She also faced defeat in the Medinipur constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections against actor-politician June Malia. Earlier this year, she was appointed vice-president of BJP West Bengal.
Ashok Kirtania
Ashok Kirtania, BJP MLA from Bangaon Uttar in North 24 Parganas, represents a politically significant Matua-influenced region. He has a background in business as well as local organisational politics.
Kshudiram Tudu
Kshudiram Tudu is a tribal leader from Bankura district. He represents the Ranibandh constituency in the Jungle Mahal region, which has a significant tribal population. The BJP has positioned leaders like him to strengthen its outreach among tribal communities in the state.
Nisith Pramanik
Nisith Pramanik is one of the BJP’s prominent young leaders from North Bengal. He was earlier associated with the Trinamool Congress before joining the BJP in 2019.
In July 2021, he became the youngest minister in the Narendra Modi-led central government at the age of 35, serving as Minister of State for Home Affairs and Youth Affairs and Sports.
He represents the Rajbanshi community and holds significant influence in North Bengal’s political landscape, particularly among youth and organisational networks.
The West Bengal Council of Ministers can accommodate a maximum of 44 members, leaving room for 39 additional ministerial positions.
