West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari swore in 35 new ministers on Monday to expand his state government [1].
The expansion follows a recent election victory and is intended to strengthen the administration's governance and political reach across the state [2].
The oath-taking ceremony took place at 11 a.m. [3] at Lok Bhavan in Kolkata [4]. Governor RN Ravi administered the oath to the incoming officials [5]. This move increases the size of the Council of Ministers to a total of 40 members [6].
Among those sworn in were several BJP MLAs, including Jagannath Chattopadhyay, Swapan Dasgupta, Sharadwat Mukherjee, Kalyan Chakraborti, and Ajoy Poddar [7]. The appointment of these figures reflects a strategy to consolidate power and integrate key party leaders into the executive branch, a move seen as a major show of strength for the current government [8].
The ceremony marks the first major cabinet expansion under Adhikari's leadership. By filling these positions, the chief minister said he aims to stabilize the administrative framework and ensure that various regional interests are represented within the cabinet [2].
Local officials and party representatives gathered at the venue to witness the transition. The expanded cabinet is expected to begin immediate work on policy implementation and state development projects as the government seeks to capitalize on its electoral momentum [7].
“West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari swore in 35 new ministers on Monday”
The rapid expansion of the West Bengal cabinet to 40 members suggests a strategy of political inclusivity and reward for party loyalty following an election. By incorporating a large number of BJP MLAs, Adhikari is likely attempting to minimize internal friction and create a broad base of support to execute his legislative agenda more effectively.
