Kalita Majhi, a former domestic helper, was sworn in as a Minister of State in the West Bengal cabinet this week.
The appointment marks a significant shift in the socio-economic profile of the state's leadership. By elevating a candidate from a working-class background, the administration aims to reflect greater diversity within the government.
Majhi took her oath at Lok Bhawan in Kolkata. She entered politics after winning the Ausgram Assembly seat as a candidate for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Her ascent to the cabinet is part of a broader expansion led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
Before her political career, Majhi worked as a domestic helper earning Rs 4,500 [1] per month. This background has become a focal point of her appointment as the government seeks to signal inclusivity.
"I am overjoyed that Modiji has brought me to this position," Majhi said. "I could never have imagined that I would become an MLA, let alone a Minister."
The cabinet expansion included the induction of 35 [2] ministers. This move brings the total size of the Council of Ministers to 41 [3] members. The expansion is intended to address regional discontent and integrate new aspirations into the state's governance structure, a strategy central to Adhikari's current legislative agenda.
Majhi's role as Minister of State will see her support the administration in managing the needs of her constituency and the wider state population.
“I could never have imagined that I would become an MLA, let alone a Minister.”
The appointment of Kalita Majhi serves as a symbolic victory for the BJP's outreach to the lowest economic strata of West Bengal's electorate. By transitioning a former domestic worker into a ministerial role, the administration is attempting to dismantle traditional caste and class barriers in regional politics to broaden its grassroots support.
