West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari will expand his Council of Ministers on Monday, May 11, 2026 [3].
The expansion is a critical step in formally constituting the new state government following Adhikari's own swearing-in as chief minister. By allocating portfolios to a broader group of officials, the administration aims to establish its operational framework and distribute governance responsibilities across the state.
The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. [2] at Nabanna, the state secretariat also known as Lok Bhavan, located in Kolkata [1]. According to reports, 35 ministers are expected to take the oath during this event [1].
This move follows an initial phase of government formation where a smaller group of officials was appointed. In that first batch, Suvendu Adhikari handed portfolios to five ministers [4]. During that initial phase, key figures including Agnimitra Paul and Dilip Ghosh were assigned significant roles [4].
While the current expansion will bring a large number of new members into the fold, the chief minister has previously kept several key portfolios under his own direct control [5]. The upcoming ceremony marks the transition from a skeletal leadership team to a full cabinet capable of managing the state's diverse administrative needs.
Security and logistical arrangements have been centralized at the Nabanna secretariat to accommodate the incoming ministers and the official proceedings. The process of allocating specific departments to the 35 new appointees is expected to follow the formal ceremony [1].
“35 ministers are expected to take the oath during this event”
The transition from a five-member initial batch to a 35-member cabinet indicates a shift from emergency government formation to full-scale administrative governance. By delaying the full expansion, Adhikari maintained direct control over key portfolios during the transition period, a common strategy for new leaders to ensure stability before delegating authority to a wider political circle.
