The 35 members of the extended cabinet in West Bengal are set to take their oath as ministers at Lok Bhavan in Kolkata at 11 a.m. today. Governor R.N. Ravi will be administering the oath. Last week, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal met separately with the party’s central leadership to finalize the names of the new cabinet members.
The 35 BJP legislators will officially become cabinet members today. The distribution of portfolios among the new cabinet members is expected to be announced on the same day. Speculation is rife about the composition of the cabinet, but the state BJP leadership has remained tight-lipped. A state committee member of the BJP hinted at surprises, emphasizing a mix of experienced individuals and fresh faces in the extended cabinet.
With the addition of the 35 new cabinet members, the total count will reach 41, leaving room for three more inductions as the state’s cabinet can have a maximum of 15% of the total Assembly strength. Notably, six ministers, including Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, were sworn in by the Governor on May 9, marking the first BJP-ruled state government in West Bengal.
Following the oath ceremony, Chief Minister Adhikari will meet with various state government employee associations to discuss the payment of Dearness Allowance to current and retired employees in line with the Supreme Court’s directives. In the recent West Bengal Assembly elections, BJP secured a significant victory with its candidates winning in 207 Assembly constituencies, later increasing to 208 after a successful repolling in the Falta constituency.
