Bengal Cabinet set for major expansion: Here are probable names to become ministers
Three weeks after Suvendu Adhikari took charge, 35 ministers to be sworn in, with North Bengal, Jungalmahal, women, and backward communities reportedly in focus
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Sunday (May 31) that 35 ministers will take oath on Monday at 11 am at Nabanna, the state secretariat, with Governor RN Ravi administering the oath. The expansion comes three weeks after Adhikari was sworn in as Chief Minister on May 9, following the BJP's sweep of the assembly elections that ended 15 years of TMC rule.
"Tomorrow, a full-fledged Council of Ministers of the nationalist government elected by the people of West Bengal will be constituted," Adhikari posted on X in Bangla.
Weeks of consultation behind it
The expansion has not come overnight. According to UNI sources in the state administration and the BJP, multiple rounds of consultations have been underway to ensure political and regional balance, with the exercise of finalising names and allocating portfolios said to be in its final stages. An important communication from Delhi is expected shortly, after which senior BJP leaders are likely to hold a final round of meetings to settle the remaining details.
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Since taking oath on May 9, Adhikari has been overseeing 42 of the state's 54 departments with the assistance of just five ministers — Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania, Nisith Pramanik and Kshudiram Tudu. Monday's expansion is intended to end that interim arrangement.
Constitutional ceiling in play
The 91st Constitutional Amendment caps a state cabinet at 15% of the assembly's strength. With West Bengal having 294 MLAs, the maximum cabinet size is 44. With five ministers already in place, Adhikari can induct a maximum of 38 more. PTI reports the number at 35, while UNI sources put the likely figure at 33. Party sources suggest the remaining berths may be left vacant for now.
According to UNI sources, Adhikari is expected to retain the crucial Home and Finance portfolios for himself, with the remaining departments to be distributed among the new inductees and the existing council.
Who may make the cut
The government is yet to release an official list, and party leaders have been careful to stress that the final call rests entirely with the central leadership in Delhi. But speculation is rife across multiple reports.
Regional balance is a stated priority. With Nisith Pramanik, an MLA from Mathabhanga in North Bengal, already in the cabinet, and Coochbehar-Dakshin MLA Rathindra Bose appointed Assembly Speaker, sources say the region is likely to get further representation. MLAs Dipak Burman and Shankar Ghosh are reportedly being considered. UNI reports that Jungalmahal and urban areas are also receiving particular emphasis in the composition discussions.
Experienced hands and fresh faces
The proposed ministry is reportedly expected to feature a blend of seasoned legislators and newer faces. Among the BJP MLAs whose names are allegedly under consideration, per UNI, are Swapan Dasgupta, Tapas Roy, Shankar Ghosh, Indranil Khan and Saradwat Mukherjee — though no official confirmation has been made on any of these names.
Dasgupta, a former Rajya Sabha MP, is also reportedly in the running for the Higher Education portfolio, according to Indian Express sources. Fellow journalist-turned-politician Jagannath Chattopadhyay is allegedly also being discussed for a cabinet berth.
Women and actors in the race
The initial cabinet included Agnimitra Paul as its sole woman minister. Party leaders say two or more women are likely to be inducted in the expansion, with a woman actor also reportedly in the running. Actor-turned-politician Rudranil Ghosh is allegedly among the names being discussed, per Indian Express sources.
Communities to be represented
The first cabinet was deliberately composed to signal inclusion — Paul representing women, Kirtania the Matua community, Pramanik the Rajbangshis, and Tudu the tribal population. Party leaders say Monday's expansion will extend that logic further, with backward communities and women remaining a stated priority.
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"In this new list, women and backward communities will remain a priority for the BJP. North Bengal is also another priority," a BJP leader told Indian Express.
Central leadership has the final say
Despite weeks of speculation, party insiders have been measured about putting names on record.
"In our party, no decision is taken single-handedly. The central leadership will take the final call. In this case, too, the central leadership made the final decision on who would be the Cabinet ministers and which department each would get. We can only say that there are some surprises. For that, everybody will have to wait till Monday," a party leader told Indian Express.
The cabinet expansion is being closely watched as the first clear signal of the BJP government's governance priorities and political strategy following its historic victory in West Bengal.